JOHNA.SEAVERNS 


3  9090  013  413  386 


r 


Webster  Family  Library  of  Veterinary  Medicine 
Cummings  School  of  Veterinary  Medicine  at 
Tufts  University 
200  VVestboro  Road 

Mfti+hRraftnn   MAfllWR 


HTFIS  TO  llORSE-KEEPEES, 


A   COMPLETE 

MANUAL  FOR  HORSEMEN; 

EMBRACIN^G 

HOW  TO  BREED  A  HORSE.  HOW  TO  PHYSIC  A  HORSE. 
HOW  TO  BUY   A  HORSE.  (Allopathy  aud  Homoeopathy.) 

HOW  TO  BREAK  A  HORSE.  HOW  TO  GROOM  A  HORSE. 

HOW  TO  USE  A  HORSE.  HOW  TO  DRIVE    A  HORSE. 

HOW  TO  FEED  A  HORSE.  HOW  TO  RIDE  A   HORSE. 

ANT3    CHAPTERS 

ON   MULES    AND    PONIES 

BY   THE   LATE 

HENRY    WILLIAM     HERBERT. 

(feank  forester.) 

WITH    ADDITIONS,    INCLUDING    '"  RAREY'S    METHOD    OF    HORSE  -  TAMING," 

AND     "BAUCHER'S    SYSTEM    OF    HORSEilANSHIP ;"     ALSO,     GIYINQ 

DIRECTIONS   FOR   THE   SELECTION   AND   CARE   OF   CARRIAGES 

AND    HARNESS   OF   EVERY  DESCRIPTION,    ANT)   A 

MEMOIR   OF   THE   AUTHOR. 


i^imttifunM  MllnHtutti, 


NEW  YORK: 
A.     O.     MOORE     &     COMPANY, 

No.   14i)    FULTOX    STREET. 

-     1859. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  (Congress,  in  the  year  1859,  by 

A.   0.   MOORE  &  CO 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Southern  District  of  New  York, 


EDWARD   O.   JENKINS, 

i^rintft  &  ^terrotgptr, 
No.  26  Frankfort  Strkbt. 


THESE 

HINTS    TO    HORSE-KEEPERS 

%xt  rtspectfitllg  irtbitatib  to    bis   ^xitnli 

CHARLES  A.  DANA, 

A.T    WHOSB    SUGGESTION    THEY     WERE     COMPOSED     BY 

THE   AUTHOR, 

HENRY  W.HERBERT, 

The  Cedars 


PUBLISHERS'   PREFACE. 

The  basis  of  the  present  work  is  the  valuable  matter 
written  by  Mr.  Herbert  shortly  before  his  death,  comprised 
within  the  first  thirteen  chapters.  An  extension  of  the 
work  was  undertaken  by  the  author,  and  the  outline  of 
the  remaining  chapters  was  being  filled  out  by  him,  when 
that  strange  and  fatal  mood  overshadowed  his  life,  and 
terminated  his  earthly  labors. 

In  committing  the  unfinished  task  to  other  hands,  we 
have  been  particularly  fortunate  in  procuring,  for  each  de- 
partment, competent  and  experienced  aid  ;  and  if  the  style 
of  a  favorite  author  is  not  to  be  recognized  by  our  readers 
in  all  parts  of  the  work,  they  may  derive  some  compensa- 
tion from  the  fact,  that  by  combining  the  experience  of  a 
number  of  contributors  we  present  a  completness  and 
variety  not  to  be  expected  in  the  production  of  any  one 
mind. 

These  Hints  to  Horse-Keepers  are  intended  to  in- 
clude every  subject  of  interest  to  those  who,  for  pleasure  or 
business,  own  or  use  a  horse.  From  their  comprehensiveness 
they  are  necessarily  brief  and  condensed.  More  elaborate 
works  on  each  speciality  have  previously  been  in  the 
hands  of  the  public,  and  this  volume  is  not  adapted,  nor 
intended,  to  supplant  them;  but  by  presenting  in  one 
volume  a  com  pen  d  of  our  valuable  standard  works,  with 
the  latest  discoveries  and  improvements,  it  is  believed  we 
have  answered  a  demand  till  now  unsupplied. 


16] 


8  HERBERT. 

America,  where  he  soon  expended  His  little  remaining 
money.  It  is  now  that  his  life,  as  a  man,  commenced ;  and 
the  many  difficulties  and  misfortunes  which  beset  his  way, 
are  thus  alluded  to  in  his  last  letter  to  the  press : — ''  I  bear 
an  honorable  name ;  I  have  striven  hard,  in  great  trial,  in 
great  temptation,  in  a  foreign  country,  in  a  false  position, 
among  men  who  did  not,  perhaps  could  not,  sympathize 
with  me,  to  keep  it  honorable."  Again — "  Eemember 
also,  when  you  judge  me,  that  of  all  lives,  mine  has  been 
almost  the  most  unhappy.  No  counsellor,  no  friend,  no 
country  have  been  mine,  for  six-and-twenty  weary  years. 
Every  hope  has  broken  down  under  my  foot  as  soon  as  it 
has  touched  it.  Every  spark  of  happiness  has  been 
quenched  as  soon  as  it  has  been  kindled." 

For  eight  years  Herbert  was  a  teacher  in  a  school 
in  New  York,  where  he  gave  the  most  perfect  satis- 
faction: He  was  a  frequent  contributor  to  the  best  jour- 
nals of  the  day,  and  an  editor  of  the  '^  American  Monthly 
Magazine."  In  "  The  Captains  of  the  Old  World,"  ^"  The 
Eoman  Eepublic,"  **  The  Brothers,  a  tale  of  the  French," 
"  Kingwood  the  Rover,"  '^Warwick  Woodlands,"  *'  Crom- 
well," &c.,  he  has  given  pleasure  and  instruction  to  many 
readers.  These  facts  concern  Herbert's  literary  reputa- 
tion, which  was  good  among  distinguished  literary  men  ; 
but  that  which  binds  him  to  the  hearts  of  true  sportsmen, 
and  lovers  of  nature,  he  has  won  under  the  nom  de  plume 
of  "Frank  Forester,"  in  the '^  Field  Sports,"  "  Fish  and 
Fishing,"  "The  Deer  Stalkers,"  "The  Complete  Manual 
for  Young  Sportsmen,"  etc.  More  recently,  he  wrote  a 
very  large  work  on  "  The  Horse  of  America,"  and,  last  of 
all,  these  "Hints  to  Horse-Keepers." 

Herbert  was  twice  married ; — first,  in  1839,  to  a  Mis9 
Barker,  of  Bangor,  whither  he  had  accompanied  a  gentle- 


HERBERT.  » 

man  of  New  York,  a  literary  friend,  for  ihe  purpost  of 
acting  as  groomsman  at  tlie  marriage  of  his  friend  and  the 
lady  in  question.  With  the  variableness  of  a  woman, 
Miss  Barker  made  a  bridegroom  of  the  groomsman,  and 
cast  an  enduring  shadow  over  the  life  of  her  former  suitor. 
The  only  child  by  this  wife  was  a  son,  now  living  in 
England,  at  the  age  of  eighteen.  Mrs.  Herbert  died  in 
1846. 

In  February  of  1858,  Herbert  married  a  lady  from  Prov- 
idence, E.  I.,  after  a  brief  and  romantic  acquaintance. 
His  affection  for  her  seems  to  have  been  unbounded ;  but 
— whether  on  account  of  habits  long  ago  contracted,  or  in 
consequence  of  the  slanders  of  meddlesome  neighbors,  the 
world  does  not  know,  and  has  no  right  to  inquire — she  left 
him ;  and  he,  broken  down  by  this  last  great  sorrow  of  a 
life  of  sorrows,  committed  suicide  at  the  Stevens  House 
in  New  York,  on  the  17th  day  of  April,  1858.  He  was 
buried  in  the  cemetery  adjoining  his  place,  "  the  Cedars," 
near  Newark,  N.  J. 

The  character  of  Herbert  is  a  difficult  one  to  criticize ; 
but  it  is  very  certain  that  his  intellectual  attainments,  his 
great  love  for  everything  in  nature,  and  his  power  of  com- 
municating that  love  to  his  readers,  by  far  outweigh  in 
importance  his  faults,  which  were  those  of  the  head  and 
not  of  the  heart.  In  no  line  that  he  ever  wrote  is  there 
an  improper  tendency,  or  the  expression  of  an  impure 
thought.  Judged  by  his  works,  he  appears  preeminently 
a  good  man.  Judged  by  what  is  known  of  his  life,  he 
appears  to  have  been  prevented  only  by  faults  which  were 
the  inheritance  of  a  misspent  youth,  from  becoming  a 
bright  example  of  combined  greatness  and  goodness. 

1* 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I. 

HOW  TO  BREED  A  HORSE— CHOICE   OP  STALLION. 

National  Yalue  of  the  Horse — The  best  class  of  Horses  the  cheapest  for  all 
purposes — "What  constitutes  excellence — Blood :  what  it  gives  ;  should 
be  on  the  side  of  the  Sire — Breed  up,  not  down — Diseases  and  Defects 
Hereditary — General  Rules         -        -        -        -        -        -        -IT 

CHAPTER  H. 

HOW  TO  BREED  A  HORSE— CHOICE   OF  THE  MARE. 

Size,  Symmetry  and  Soundness  more  important  than  Blood— Points  of  the 
Brood  Mare — Diseases  Hereditary — Condition  of  the  Mare — Should 
have  moderate  work  when  with  Foal — Food  and  care  during  gestation 
—Health  and  temper — General  Rules 25 

CHAPTER  in. 

HOW   TO   BREED   A   HORSE — MUTUAL   ADAPTATION   OF   SIRE   AND  DAM. 

First  consideration  in  Improvement  of  "cold  ''  Blood — Relative  size  of  Sire 
and  Dam — Defects  in  either  Parent — How  Remedied  in  Progeny — 
Bloods  which  "  hit"— General  Rules  -        -     .    -        -        -        -      35 

CHAPTER  IV. 

HOW  TO  BREED  A   HORSE — CANADIAN   BLOOD. 

The  Canadian  originally  the  FrenchNorman— Characteristics— Hardihood — 
Speed — Mode  of  Improvement — Crossing  with  Thorough-brede    -      45 

[11] 


12  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  V. 

HOW  TO  BREED   A   HORSE— NORMAN  BLOOD. 

Origin  and  History  of  the  Percheron  Norman — A  pure  race— Characteristics 
and  Points — Importation  into  this  country  -         -        -        -      51 

CHAPTER  VI. 

HOW   TO   BREED   A   HORSE— MODERN   ARAB   BLOOD. 

Enghsh  and  American  Thorough-breds  derived  from  Oriental  Blood — are 
now  superior  to  the  Modern  Arabs— Nolan  Arab        -         -        -       58 

CHAPTER  YII. 

PONIES— THEIR  DIFFERENT   BREEDS,    CHARACTERISTICS   AND   UTILITY. 

Unknown  to  the  Ancients— Origin — Different  Breeds— Shetlands  and  Scots 
— Galloways  and  Narragansetts — Mustangs  and  Indians — Profit  of  rais- 
ing Ponies .63 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

HOW   TO   BREED   MULES. 

Yalue  of  Mules— Their  History  and  Natural  History — The  Mule  and  Hinney 
— Thorough -blood  wasted  in  the  Dam  for  Mules— The  Mule  in  the 
United  States — Large  Size  not  Desirable — Varieties  of  fhe  Ass — The 
kind  of  Mares  to  be  selected 81 

CHAPTER   IX. 

HOW   TO   BUY   A  HORSE. 

Of  whom  to  Buy  it — Extraordinary  Cheapness  and  Extraordinary  Excel- 
lence not  consistent  with  each  other — Points  to  be  Regarded— How  to 
examine  the  Eye— Broken  "Wind— Roaring — Whistling — Broken  Knees 
— ^^To  examine  the  Legs— Splents— Damaged  Back  Sinews— Spavins — 
Ringbones — Curbs  —Thorough-pin — How  to  tell  the  Age  of  a  Horse     94 

CHAPTER   X. 

HOW  TO  FEED   A   HORSE. 

Consequences  of  Improper  Feeding — Different  Food  for  different  conditions 
— Food  for  the  Brood  Mare— for  the  Foal— For  Working  Horses — 
Green  Food — Carrots — Corn— Feeding  Horses  in  Training — While 
Travelling— Summering  Horses — The  Best  Method — Management  of 
Omnibus  Horsos  iu  New  York 121 


OONTEKTS.  13 

CHAPTER  XI. 

HOW  TO  STABLE   AND   GROOM   A  HORSE. 

Requisites  for  a  good  Stable— The  economy  of  Proper  Arrangements— Venti- 
lation—Grooming ;  its  necessity  for  all  descriptions  of  Horses — How- 
Performed — Clothing— Treatment  of  the  Horse  when  brought  in  from 
Work -     139 

•CHAPTER  XH. 

HOW   TO   BREAK,    AND   USE   A   HORSE. 

What  is  required  in  a  well-broken  Horse— His  education  should  commence 
when  a  Colt — Biting— Putting  in  Harness— How  to  Use  a  Horse — 
TraveUing— Working— Pleasure  Horses— Punishment         -        -     151 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

HOW   TO   PHYSIC   A   HORSE— SIMPLE   REMEDIES   FOR   SIMPLE   AILMENTS. 

Causes  of  A Uments— Medicines  to  be  given  only  by  the  order  of  the  Master 
— Depletion  and  Purging— Spasmodic  Colic— Inflammation  of  the 
Bowels  —Inflammation  of  the  Lungs — How  to  Bleed — Balls  and  Purga- 
tives— Costiveness  —  Cough  —  Bronchitis  —Distemper — Worms — Dis- 
eases of  the  Feet — Scratches — Thrush — Broken  Knees        -        -     162 

CHAPTER   XIV. 

FAtlRIERY,  ETC. 

Castration — Docking  and  Nicking — Blood-letting— Treatment  of  Strains  and 
Wounds — Galls  of  the  Skin— Cracked  Heels — Clipping  and  Singeing— 
Administering  Medicines — Diseases  of  the  Feet  -        -        -        -     187 

CHAPTER   XV. 

HOW   TO    SHOE   A   HORSE. 

Unskilful  Shoers— Anatomy  of  the  Foot  Illustrated — The  Foot  of  a  Colt — - 
Preparation  of  the  Foot — Removing  the  Old  Shoe — Paring  the  Foot — 
The  Shoe — Fitting  the  Shoe — Nailing — Number  of  Nails — Diseases  of 
the  Foot 218 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

BAUCHER'S  METHOD  OF  TRAINING  HORSES. 

What  Constitutes  a  Well-trained  Horse — To  make  him  come  at  your  call — 
The  Philosophy  of  Training— Flexions  of  the  Jaw— Flexions  of  the 
Neck — Flexions  of  the  Croup — Backing — The  Paces— Leaping    •    241 


14  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XVn. 

HOW     TO     RIDE     A     HORSE. 

The  Saddle— The  Girths— The  Stirrups— Saddle-Cloths— The  Crupper— The 
Martingale— The  Bridle — Spurs — Mounting  and  Dismounting — The  Seat 
— The  Hands— The  Legs— The  Paces— Hints  for  Special  Cases— The 
Art  of  Falling — Ridmg  with  Ladies 261 

CHAPTER  XVin. 

ladies'   riding — WRITTEN  BY   A  LADY. 

Learning  to  Ride— The  Side-saddle— The  Girths— The  Stirrup— The  Bridle— 
The  Martingale— The  Bit — The  Dress — Mountuig  and  Dismounting — 
The  Position— The  Hands— The  Leg  and  Whip^-Accidents        -    288 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

HOW     TO     DRIVE     A     HORSE. 

The  Art  of  Driving— Pleasure  Driving — How  to  Hold  the  Reins— Driving  a 
Pair — Four-in-hand  Driving — Driving  "Working  Horses — Plowing — 
Three-a-breast 304 

CHAPTER  XX. 

RAREY'S   system  OF  HORSE-TAMING. 

Rarey's  System  a  New  Discovery — Previous  System — Principles  of  this  Sys- 
tem—Instructions for  practicing  Rarey's  Method — To  Stable  the  Horse 
— To  Approach  the  Horse — Tying  up  the  Leg — Laying  the  Horse  Down 
— Finale — Vices  and  Bad  Habits— Rearing— Kicking — Baulking — Pull- 
ing on  the  Halter— Shying 317 

CHAPTER   XXI. 

RACING. 

Training  the  Racer — Training  Stables — Feeding  Horses  in  Training— Laws 
of  Racing — Table  of  Weights  for  different  Ages— Handicapping        333 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

VETERINARY   HOMOEOPATHY. 

Principles  of  the  System — Table  of  Remedies— General  Directions— Treat- 
ment of  a  Sick  Animal— Diet— Remedies  for  Specific  Cases— Glossary 
of  Disease* -         -     344 


CONTENTS.  15 

CHAPTER  XXin. 

CARRIAGES. 

General  Remarks— Different  Varieties  of  Vehicles— The  Wheel,  Hub,  and 
Axle— The  Springs— The  Shafts  and  Pole— The  Body  and  Top— Paint- 
ing and  Varnishing— Trimming  and  Plating— Harmony  of  Colors- 
How  to  Keep  Carriages  in  Good  Condition         ....    374 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 


The  Quality  of  Leather— Stitching— The  Collar—The  Traces— The  Saddle 
and  Breeching — The  Bridle  and  Reins — Minor  Details — How  to  Keep 
Harness  in  Good  Condition 402 


HINTS  TO  HORSE-KEEPERS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

HOW   TO    BREED    A    HORSE CHOICE    OF    STALLION. 

NATIONAL  VALUE  OB'  THE  HORSE— THE  BETTER  CLASS  OF  HORSES  THE 
CHEAPEST  FOR  ALL  PURPOSES— WHAT  CONSTITUTES  EXCELLENCE?— 
*'  BLOOD  ;"  WHAT  IT  GIVES — SHOULD  BE  ON  THE  SIDE  OF  THE  SIRE — 
BREED  UP,  NOT  DOWN —DISEASES  AND  DEFECTS  HEREDITARY — GENERAL 
RULES, 

To  enter  into  an  argument  at  this  day  of  the  nineteenth 
century,  to  show  that  the  horse  stock  of  any  country  is  a 
material  item  in  the  account  of  the  national  wealth, 
strength  and  greatness,  would  be  to  admit  the  arguer  him- 
self an  ass,  or  at  least  to  show  that  he  believed  himself  to 
be  addressing  an  audience  of  asses.  In  no  country  in  the 
world,  perhaps,  is  such  an  argument  less  needed  than  in 
our  own,  where,  certainly,  the  keeping  of  horses  for  the 
purposes  of  pleasure  as  well  as  of  utility  is  more  largely 
disseminated  among  persons  of  all  classes  than  in  any  other, 
and  where  the  desire  and  ability  both  to  keep  and  breed 
horses  of  a  high  grade  is  -  daily  gaining  ground,  both  in 
town  and  country.  Among  farmers  the  desire  to  raise  val- 
uable stock  is,  at  least,  increasing  proportionally  to  the 
increase  of  the  profit  to  be  derived  from  them,  which  is 

(1') 


18  HOW   TO  BREED   A   HOBSE. 

advancing  every  day  not  in  consequence  of  any  casual  or 
temporary  caprice,  but  is  attributable  to  the  growing  percep- 
tion of  the  fact,  among  all  horse-keepers,  that  it  is  not  only 
as  cheap,  if  one  keeps  a  horse  at  all,  to  keep  a  good  as  to 
keep  a  bad  one,  but  in  reality  much  cheaper.  The  prime 
cost  is  the  only  difference  to  be  considered :  the  price  of 
stable-room,  keep  and  care  is  identical ;  the  wear  and  tear 
is  infinitely  less  in  the  sound,  able,  useful  animal  than  in 
the  broken-down  jade ;  the  work  which  can  be  done  and 
the  value  earned  by  the  one  is  in  no  possible  relation  to 
those  by  the  other ;  while,  to  conclude,  the  cash  value  of  the 
superior  animal,  judiciously  worked, — and  by  judiciously 
is  meant  profitably  to  the  owner,  as  well  as  moderately  and 
mercifully  to  the  beast, — and  properly  tended,  is  actually 
increasing  annually  at  a  greater  rate  than  that  at  which  the 
inferior  animal  is  deteriorating. 

In  other  words,  a  four-year-old  horse,  well  bought  at  a 
price  of  two  or  three  hundred  dollars  or  upward,  will,  when 
he  has  attained  the  age  of  seven  or  eight  years,  after  hav- 
ing earned  his  meat  and  paid  the  interest  of  his  prime  cost 
by  his  services,  be  worth  twice  the  money,  either  for  work- 
ing purposes  or  for  sale,  if  the  owner  see  fit  to  dispose  of 
him ;  while  an  animal  bought  for  half  or  a  third  of  that 
price,  at  the  same  age,  will  probably,  at  the  same  increased 
age,  be  wholly  worn  out,  valueless  and  useless;  and  the 
greater  the  excellence  of  the  animal  in  the  first  instance, 
the  greater  and  more  rapid  will  be  the  increase  in  value  ; 
the  lower  his  qualities,  to  begin,  the  speedier  and  more 
complete  the  deterioration. 

Now,  as  to  what  constitutes  value  or  excellence  in  all 
horses. — It  is  indisputably  quickness  of  working ;  power 
to  move  or  carry  weight,  and  ability  to  endure  for  a  length 
of  time ;  to  travel  for  a  distance  with  the  least  decrease 


CHOICE  OF  STALLION.  19 

of  pace  ;  to  come  again  to  work  day  after  day,  week  after 
week,  and  year  after  year,  with  undiminished  vigor.  And 
it  is  scarcely  needful  to  say  that,  under  all  ordinary  circum- 
stances these  conditions  are  only  compatible  with  the 
highest  form  and  highest  physical  health  of  the  anim  al.  Mal- 
formation must  necessarily  detract  from  speed  and  power ; 
hereditar}^  disease  or  constitutional  derangement  must  nec- 
essarily detract  from  all  powers  whatsoever.  Under  usual 
circumstances  it  would  hardly  be  necessary  to  undertake  to 
show  that  quickness  of  working,  or,  in  other  words,  speed, 
is  necessary  to  a  high  degree  of  excellence  in  a  horse  of 
any  stamp  or  style,  and  not  one  iota  less  for  the  animal 
which  draws  the  load  or  breaks  the  glebe,  than  for  the 
riding  horse  or  the  pleasure  traveller  before  light  vehicles. 
But  it  has  of  late  become  the  fashion  with  some  parties  to 
undervalue  the  advantages  of  speed,  and  to  deny  its  utility 
for  other  purposes  than  for  those  of  mere  amusement;  and, 
as  a  corollary  from  this  assumption,  to  disparage  the  effect 
and  deny  the  advantage  of  bloody  by  which  is  meant 
descent,  through  the  American  or  English  race-horse, 
from  the  oriental  blood  of  the  desert,  whether  Arabian, 
Barb,  Turk,  Persian  or  Syrian,  or  a  combination  of  two 
or  more,  or  all  of  the  five. 

The  horse  which  can  plough  an  acre  while  another  is 
ploughing  half  an  acre,  or  that  which  can  carry  a  load 
of  passengers  ten  miles  while  another  is  going  five,  indepen- 
dent of  all  considerations  of  amusement,  taste,  or  what  is 
generally  called  fancy,  is  absolutely  worth  twice  as  much 
to  his  owner  as  the  other. 

Now  the  question  for  the  breeder  is  simply  this :  By 
what  means  is  this  result  to  be  obtained  ?  The  reply  is, 
by  getting  the  greatest  possible  amount  of  pure  blood  com- 
patible with  size,  weight  and  power,  according  to  the  pur- 


20  HOW   TO   BREED   A  HORSE. 

pose  for  which  he  intends  to  raise  stock,  into  the  animal 
bred.  For  not  only  is  it  not  true  that  speed  alone  is  the 
only  good  thing  derivable  from  blood,  but  something  very 
nearly  the  reverse  is  true.  It  is  very  nearly  the  least  good 
thing.  That  which  the  blood-horse  does  possess  is  a  de- 
gree of  strength  in  his  bones,  sinews,  and  frame  at  large, 
utterly  out  of  proportion  to  the  size  or  apparent  strength 
of  that  frame.  The  texture,  the  form  and  the  symmetry 
of  the  bones, — all,  in  the  same  bulk  and  volume, — possess 
double,  or  nearer  four-fold,  the  elements  of  resistance  and 
endui-ance  in  the  blood-horse  that  they  do  in  the  cold- 
blooded cart-horse.  The  difference  in  the  form  and  text- 
ure pi  the  sinews  and  muscles,  and  in  the  inferior  tendency 
to  form  flabby,  useless  flesh,  is  still  more  in  favor  of  the 
blood-horse.  Beyond  this,  the  internal  anatomical  con- 
struction of  his  respiratory  organs,  of  his  arterial  and 
venous  system,  of  his  nervous  system,  in  a  word,  of  his 
constitution  generally, — is  calculated  to  give  him  what 
he  possesses,  greater  vital  power,  greater  recuperatory 
power,  greater  physical  power,  in  proportion  to  his  bulk  and 
weight,  than  an}'-  other  known  animal — added  to  greater 
quickness  of  movement,  and  to  gTeater  courage,  greater 
endurance  of  labor,  hardship,  suffering — in  a  word,  greater 
(what  is  called  vulgarly)  game  or  pluck  than  will  be 
found  in  any  other  of  the  horse  family. 

But  it  is  not  to  be  said,  or  supposed,  that  all  blood-horses 
will  give  these  qualities  in  an  equal  degree  ;  for  there  is  as 
much  or  more  choice  in  the  blood-horse  than  in  any  other 
of  the  family.  Since,  as  in  the  blood  of  the  thorough-bred 
horse,  all  faults,  all  vices,  all  diseases  are  directly  hereditary, 
as  well  as  all  virtues,  all  soundness,  all  good  qualities,  it 
is  more  necessary  to  look,  in  the  blood-horse,  to  his  ante- 
cedents, his  liistory,  his  performances,  and,  above  all,  to  his 


CHOICE   OF   STALLION.  21 

shape,  temper,  soundness  and  constitution,  than  it  is  in  any 
other  of  the  horse  family. 

To  breed  from  a  small  horse  with,  the  hope  of  getting  a 
large  colt;  from  a  long-backed,  leggy  horse,  with  the  hope 
of  getting  a  short,  compact,  powerful  one  ;  from  a  broken- 
winded,  or  blind,  or  flat-footed,  or  spavined,  or  ringboned, 
or  navicular-joint-diseased  horse,  with  the  hope  of  getting 
a  sound  one ;  from  a  vicious  horse,  a  cowardly  horse, — 
what  is  technically  called  a  dunghill, — with  the  hope  of 
getting  a  kind-tempered  and  brave  one ;  all  or  any  of  these 
would  be  the  height  of  folly.  The  blood  sire  (and 
the  blood  should  always  be  on  the  sire's  side)  should  be, 
for  the  farmer-breeder's  purposes,  of  medium  height,  say 
16  2  hands  high,  short-backed,  well -ribbed  up,  short  in 
the  saddle-place,  long  below.  He  should  have  high  with- 
ers, broad  loins,  broad  chest,  a  straight  rump, — the  converse 
of  what  is  often  seen  in  trotters,  and  known  as  the  goose 
rump  ;  a  high  and  muscular,  but  not  beefy  crest ;  a  lean, 
bony,  well-set-on  head ;  a  clear,  bright,  smallish,  well- 
placed  eye ;  broad  nostrils  and  small  ears.  His  fore  legs 
should  be  as  long  and  as  muscular  as  possible  above  the 
knee,  and  his  hind  legs  above  the  hock,  and  as  lean,  short 
and  bony  as  possible  below  those  joints.  The  bones  can- 
not by  any  means  be  too  flat,  too  clear  of  excrescences,  or 
too  large.  The  sinews  should  be  clear,  straight,  firm,  and 
hard  to  the  touch.  From  such  a  horse,  where  the  breeder 
can  find  one,  and  from  a  well-chosen  mare  (she  may  be  a 
little  larger,  more  bony,  more  roomy,  and  in  every  way 
coarser  than  the  horse,  to  the  advantage  of  the  stock), 
sound,  healthy  and  well-limbed,  he  may  be  certain,  acci- 
dents and  contingencies  set  aside,  of  raising  an  animal  that 
will  be  creditable  to  him  as  a  scientific  stock  breeder,  and 
profitable  to  him  in  a  pecuniary  sense. 


22  HOW  TO   BREED  A   HORSE. 

The  great  point  then  to  be  aimed  at  is,  the  combining  in 
the  same  animal  the  maximum  of  speed  compatible  with 
sufficient  size,  bone,  strength,  and  solid  power  to  carry 
heavy  weights  or  draw  large  loads,  and  at  the  same  time 
to  secure  the  stock  from  the  probability,  if  not  certainty, 
of  inheriting  structural  deformity  or  constitutional  disease 
from  either  of  the  parents.  The  first  point  is  only  to  be 
attained,  first,  by  breeding  as  much  as  possible  to  pure 
blood  of  the  right  kind  ;  and,  second,  by  breeding  what  is 
technically  called  among  sportsmen  and  breeders,  up^  not 
dotvn :  that  is  to  say,  by  breeding  the  mare  to  a  male  of 
superior  (not  inferior)  blood  to  herself, — except  where  it  is 
desired  to  breed  like  to  like,  as  Canadian  to  Canadian,  or 
Norman  to  Norman,  for  the  purpose  of  perpetuating  a  pure 
strain  of  any  particular  variety,  which  may  be  useful  for 
the  production  of  brood  mares. 

By  superior  bloOd  we  mean  that  which  approaches 
nearer  to  thorough  blood.  Thus,  a  half-bred  mare  should 
never  be  put  to  a  half-bred  stallion,  as  in  that  case  the  pro- 
duce will,  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  degenerate  below  the 
dam ;  whereas,  if  she  be  bred  to  a  thorough-bred  the  pro- 
duce will  be  superior,  and  will  continually  improve  ad  in- 
finitum^ by  adhering  to  the  same  process  of  breeding  up. 
In  the  second  place,  a  reasonable  probability  of  raising 
sound  and  healthy  stock  can  only  be  attained  by  carefully 
selecting  parents  free  from  disease,  which  is  either  heredi- 
tary, or  apt  to  become  so. 

It  is  idle  for  persons  at  this  time  of  .the  world,  to  sneer 
at  the  idea  of  disease  or  other  qualities  being  hereditary, 
or  transmissible  in  the  blood  :  it  is  known,  both  medically 
and  physiologically,  that  they  are  so.  All  diseases  of  the 
lungs  and  windpipe,  known  as  the  heaves,  as  broken  wind, 
as  roaring,  whistling,  thick  wind,  and  the  like,  are,  incon- 


CHOICE   OF  STALLION.  23 

testably,  transmissible.  Blindness  is,  if  possible,  yet  more 
so ;  and  even  when  one  eye  is  destroyed  by  accident,  if 
the  other  eye,  through  a  sympathetic  affection,  follow  it, 
we  should  consider  it  by  no  means  safe  to  breed  from 
a  horse  so  injured.  Lameness,  arising  from  pure  acci- 
dent, is  of  course  not  transmissible ;  but  where  a  race- 
horse has  broken  down,  as  it  is  termed,  in  running, — that 
is  to  say,  where  the  sinews,  or  smaller  metacarpal  bones, 
commonly  known  as  the  splint  bones,  have  given  way 
from  want  of  strength  sufficient  to  endure  the  strain 
laid  upon  them, — it  will  be  well  to  observe  whether  there 
be  not  some  visible  defect  of  the  conformation  of  those 
parts,  tending  to  undue  weakness  :  such  as  disproportion- 
ate length  of  the  lower  or  cannon  bone  of  the  fore  leg, 
which  can  scarcely  be  too  short ;  or  the  defect  which  is 
generally  called  tying  t7i,  consisting  of  an  improper  con- 
traction of  the  volume  of  the  leg,  immediately  below  the 
fore  knee,  and  indicating  an  insufficiency  of  the  splint 
bone.  These  malformations  are  distinctly  hereditary.  If 
a  horse,  therefore,  break  down  in  his  forelegs,  having  such 
a  malformation,  the  breaking  down  itself  may  be  said  to 
have  been  hereditary  ;  and  one  would,  therefore,  eschew 
breeding  from  such  a  horse.  Now,  to  give  two  cases  in 
point :  there  is  probably  not  a  horse  in  America  Avhich  a 
good  judge  would  sooner  select,  m  regard  to  size,  strength, 
power,  and  all  other  qualifications,  to  which  to  put  coun- 
try mares,  than  Boston.  He  is  in  every  respect  the  beau- 
ideal  of  what,  in  England,  would  be  considered  a  hunter 
getter.  And  the  English  hunter  is  precisely  the  stamp 
and  style  of  horse  which  is  the  most  profitable  for  the 
farmer  to  raise,  for  all  general  purposes.  No  one  in  Eng- 
land would  drive  before  his  carriage,  or  ride  on  the 
road,  anything  but  English  hunters,  if    he     could  afford 


24:  HOW   TO   BREED  A  H0K3E. 

the  price  ;  and,  as  to  their  powers  for  draught  or  burden, 
it  is  only  necessary  to  say  that  men  weighing  twenty 
horseman's  stone,  or  280  pounds,  find  no  difficulty,  being 
willing  to  pay  the  price,  in  getting  hunters  nearly  tho- 
rough-bred— none  others  than  such  could  do  it — capable 
of  carrying  them  across  country,  over  hedges,  brooks  and 
timber,  as  fost  as  fox-hounds  can  run.  But — ^for  there  is  a 
hit — Boston  went  blind,  and  his  best  son,  Lexington,  has 
gone  blind  also,  first  of  one  eye,  and  then  completely ;  and 
this  fatal  fact  sets  Boston  aside  forever  as  a  country 
breeder's  horse. 

From  the  foregoing,  then,  may  be  deduced  the  following 
General  Rqles: 

First.  The  more  valuable  horses  are  the  most  econom- 
ical for  all  purposes. 

Second.  The  more  "blood"  compatible  with  the  size 
required,  the  better, — the  high-bred  animal  having  greater 
quickness^  strength^  bottom^  health  and  vigor  of  constitution, 
as  well  as  courage  and  pluck. 

Third.  The  "blood"  should  be  on  the  side  of  the  sire ; 
that  is,  the  stallion  should  be  thorough-bred,  or  at  least  of 
purer  blood  than  the  mare. 

Fourth.  Choose  a  stallion  in  every  respect  sound,  short 
backed,  well  ribbed  up,  short  in  the  saddle-place  and  long- 
below,  with  high  withers,  broad  loins,  broad  chest,  straight 
rump,  a  high  and  muscular  but  not  heefy  crest,  a  lean, 
bony,  well-set-on  head,  a  bright,  clear,  smallish,  well- 
placed  eye,  broad  nostrils  and  small  "ears.  His  fore  legs 
above  the  knee,  and  the  hind  legs  above  the  hock,  should 
be  long  and  muscular,  and  below  these  joints  short  and 
bony.  The  bones  of  the  legs  should  be  large,  flat,  and 
free  from  excrescences — the  sinews  clear,  straight,  and 
hard  to  the  touch. 


CHAPTER   IL 


HOW    ro   BREED  A  HORSE. — CHOICE   OF  THE   MARE. 


SIZE,  SYMiSlTRY  AND  SOU]ST)XESS  MORE  IMPORTANT  THAN  BLOOD — POINTS 
OF  THE  BROOD  MARE— DISEASES  HEREDITARY— CONDITION  OF  THE 
MARE— SHOULD  HAVE  MODERATE  WORK  "WHEN  WITH  FOAL — FOOD  AND 
CAHE   DURINa   GESTATION — HEALTH   AND   TEMPER — GENERAL   RULES. 

We  now  come  to  another  and  by  no  means  secondary 
part  of  the  business ;  that  is  to  say,  to  the  choice  of  the 
mares.  And  here  we  say  that  the  first  thing  to  be  looked 
for  is,  not  blood  nor  performances,  but  size  and  symmetry, 
accompanied,  as  a  matter  of  course,  by  constitutional  and 
structural  soundness.  Blood  from  the  sire,  beauty  from 
the  dam,  is  the  golden  rule  of  the  breeder.  We  know  it 
is  commonly  said  by  farmers,  concerning  some  miserable, 
undersized,  ewe-necked,  cat-hammed  wretch  of  a  mare, 
broken- winded,  ring-boned  and  spavined,  "  Oh,  she  will  do 
to  raise  a  colt  out  of !"  So  she  will !  But  what  will  the 
colt  be  ?  The  breeder  had  better,  for  all  purposes,  espe- 
cially for  his  own  pecuniary  benefit,  have  shot  her  at  once ; 
for  the  colt  will  not  be  worth  the  mare's  grass,  let  alone 
the  price  of  the  stallion's  services.  When  we  say  that 
blood  is  not  to  be  looked  for,  we  mean  not  as  a  primary 
necessity.  Of  course,  it  is  to  be  looked  for,  thus, — that  a 
_fine  mare,  having  the  breeding  points  finely  developed, 
got  by  a  prime  thorough-bred  horse,  is  a  preferable  animal 
for  a  dam,  to  an  equally  fine  mare  who  has  no  thorough 
2  [25] 


26  HOW   TO    BREED   A   HORSE. 

blood  at  all.  But,  on  the  contrary,  a  mare  with  all  the 
best  bloods  in  the  world  in  her  veins,  if  she  has  not  good 
shapes,  good  size,  and  good  points,  is  not  fit  for  a  stud 
mare.  We  do  not  merely  mean  as  to  the  absence  of  ac- 
tual deformities,  or  constitutional  disease,  such  as  spavin, 
ringbone  or  navicular  disease,  but  as  to  lack  of  structural 
excellence  and  beauty.  We  go  so  far  as  to  say  that  a 
farmer  had  far  better  let  alone  breeding  from  a  niare  which 
he  knows  to  be  herself  a  good  and  tru3  one,  if  she  be  cross 
made,  unsightly,  and  deficient  in  points  of  strength  or  in 
action ;  for  excellence  will  sometimes  be  found,  acciden- 
tally and  exceptionally,  in  all  shapes,  even  the  most 
unlikely.  But  it  will  be  found,  in  ninety-nine  cases  out  of 
a  hundred,  that  the  ill  shapes  will  be  transmitted,  while 
the  excellence  will  not.  Therefore,  say  we,  when  a  good 
old  mare,  however  good  she  may  have  been,  if  she  want 
size,  bone,  muscular  development  and  form,  has  done  her 
work,  it  is  better  to  let  her  go,  her  duties  done,  than  to 
seek  to  turn  her  to  farther  profit  by  breeding  from  her, 
since  the  profit  is  extremely  likely  to  prove  a  loss.  An 
unproved  mare,  of  fine  form  and  good  temper,  with  plenty 
of  bone,  good  constitution,  and  free  from  unsoundness  or 
vice,  is  a  better  animal  from  which  to  raise  stock  than  the 
toughest  bit  of  mare's  flesh  that  ever  stood  on  iron,  if  she 
materially  lack  any  one  of  those  conditions. 

"  In  choosing  the  brood  mare,"  says  an  excellent  modern 
writer  on  the  horse,  though  he  is  speaking  of  thorough- 
breds, "  four  things  must  be  considered  :  First,  her  blood ; 
secondly,  her  frame ;  thirdly,  her  state  of  health  ;  and 
fourthly,  her  temper. 

"In  frame,  the  mare  should  be  so  formed  as  to  be 
capable  of  carrying  and  well  nourishing  her  off-spring ; 
that  is,  she  should  be  what  is  called  '  roomy.'  There  is 
a  formation   of  the  hips  which  is  particularly  unfit  for 


CHOICE  OF  THE   MARE.  27 

breeding  purposes,  and  yet  wbicli  is  sometimes  carefully 
selected,  because  it  is  considered  elegant ;  this  is  tbe  level 
and  straight  hip,  in  which  the  tail  is  set  on  very  high,  and 
the  end  of  the  haunch  bone  is  nearly  on  a  level  with  the 
projection  of  the  hip  bone.  Nearly  the  opposite  form  is 
the  more  desirable,  where,  on  examining  the  pelvis,  it  will 
be  seen  that  the  haunch  bone  forms  a  considerable  angle 
with  the  sacrum,  and  that  there  is,  as  a  consequence,  plenty 
of  room,  not  only  for  carrying  the  foal,  but  for  allowing  it 
to  pass  into  the  world.  Both  of  these  points  are  important, 
the  former  evidently  so,  and  the  latter  no  less  so  on  consid- 
eration; because,  if  the  foal  is  injured  in  the  birth,  either 
of  necessity  or  from  ignorance,  it  will  often  fail  to  recover 
its  powers,  and  will  remain  permanently  injured.  The 
pelvis,  then,  should  be  Vvdde  and  deep, — that  is  to  say,  large 
and  roomy ;  and  there  should  also  be  a  little  more  than  the 
average  length,  from  hip  to  the  shoulder,  so  as  to  give 
plenty  of  bed  for  the  foal,  as  well  as  a  good  depth  of  back 
ribs,  which  are  necessary  to  give  the  strength  to  support 
this  increased  length.  This  gives  to  the  whole  frame-work 
of  the  trunk  a  larger  proportion  than  is  always  desira- 
ble in  the  race-horse,  which  is  easily  overtopped  in  race- 
horses,"— that  is  to  say,  they  may  easily  have  more  body 
than  their  legs  can  properly  carry, — "  and  hence  many 
good  runners  have  failed  as  brood  mares,  while  a  great 
number  of  bad  runners  have  been  dams  of  good  horses. 
Beyond  this  roomy  frame,  necessary  as  the  egg-shell  of  the 
foal,  the  mare  only  requires  such  a  shape  and  make  as  is 
well  adapted  for  the  purpose  she  is  intended  for,"  that  is 
to  say,  for  producing  colts  of  the  style  and  form  she  is  in- 
tended to  produce.  We  will  add,  that  she  must  have  four 
good  legs  under  her,  and  those  legs  standing  as  a  foun- 
dation on  four  good,  well-shaped,  large  feet,  open-heeled, 
and  by  no  means  flat-soled.     That  she  should  have  a  good, 


28  now    TO   BREED   A   HORSE. 

lean,  bony  head,  small-eared,  broad-fronted,  well  set  on, 
upon,  a  higb,  well-carried  neck,  tliin  at  its  junction  with 
the  head ;  high  withers,  thin,  and,  above  all,  long,  sloping 
shoulders.  A  straight  shoulder  is  an  abomination ;  it  ren- 
ders speed  impossible,  and  gives  a  rigid,  inflexible  motion, 
often  producing  the  bad  fault  of  stumbling.  She  should 
be  wide-chested,  and  deep  in  the  heart-place.  Her  quarters 
should  be  strong,  well  let  down,  long  and  sickle-shaped 
above  the  hocks.  It  is  better  that  she  go  with  her  hocks 
somewhat  too  wide  apart  than  too  near  together — the 
former  point  indicating  power,  the  latter,  weakness  of  a 
bad  kind.  It  has  been  shown  that  a  brood  mare  may, 
nay,  should^  be  considerably  longer  in  the  back  than  one 
would  choose  a  working  horse  to  be  ;  but  if  she  be  partic- 
ularly so,  it  is  desirable  to  put  her  to  a  short-backed  and 
close-coupled  horse. 

"In  health,"  says  the  same  writer  who  has  been  quoted 
above,  "the  brood  mare  should  be  as  near  perfection  as 
the  artificial  state  of  the  animal  will  allow  ;  at  all  events, 
it  is  the  most  important  point  of  all ;  and  in  every  case  the 
mare  should  be  ver}^  carefully  examined  with  a  view  to 
discover  what  deviations  from  a  natural  state  have  been 
entailed  upon  her  by  her  own  labors,  and  what  she  has 
inherited  from  her  ancestors.  Independently  of  the  con- 
sequence of  accidents,  all  deviations  from  a  state  of  health 
in  the  mare  may  be  considered  as  more  or  less  transmitted 
to  her,  because,  in  a  thoroughly  sound  constitution,  no  or- 
dinary treatment,  such  as  training  consists  of,  will  produce 
disease;  and  it  is  only  hereditary  predisposition  which, 
u.nder  this  [)roce3S,  entails  its  appearance.  Still  there  are 
positive,  comparative  and  superlative  degrees  of  objec- 
tionable diseases  incidental  to  the  brood-mare,  which  should 
be  accepted  or  refused  accordingly.  All  accidental  de- 
fects, such    as   broken   knees,  dislocated    hips,  or    even 


CHOICE   OF  THE   MARE.  29 

'  breaks-down,'  may  be  passed  over ;  the  latter,  however, 
only  when  the  stock  from  which  the  mare  is  descended 
are  famous  for  standing  their  work  without  this  frailty  of 
sinew  and  ligament.  Spavins,  ringbones,  large  splents, 
side-bones,  and,  in  fact,  all  bony  enlargements,  are  consti- 
tutional defects,  and  will  be  almost  sure  to  be  perpetuated, 
more  or  less,  according  to  the  degree  in  which  they  exist 
in  the  particular  case.  Curby  hocks  are  also  hereditary, 
and  should  be  avoided ;  though  many  a  one,  much  bent 
at  the  junction  of  the  os  calcis  and  astragalus^  is  not  at  all 
liable  to  curbs.  It  is  the  defective  condition  of  the  liga- 
ments there,  not  the  angular  junction,  which  leads  to 
curbs ;  and  the  breeder  should  carefully  investigate  the 
individual  case  before  accepting  or  rejecting  a  mare  with 
suspicious  hocks.  Bad  feet,  whether  from  contraction  or 
from  too  flat  and  thin  a  sole,  should  be  avoided ;  but  when 
they  have  obviously  arisen  from  bad  shoeing,  the  defect 
may  be  passed  over.  Such  are  the  general  considerations 
bearing  upon  soundness  of  limb. 

"  Broken- winded  mares  seldom  breed,  and  they  are 
therefore  out  of  the  question,  if  for  no  other  reason; 
but  no  one  would  risk  the  recurrence,  even  if  he  could 
get  such  a  mare  stinted.  Eoaring  is  a  much-vexed  ques- 
tion, which  is  by  no  means  theoretically  settled  among 
our  chief  veterinary  authorities,  nor  practically  by  our 
breeders.  Every  year,  however,  it  becomes  more  and 
more  frequent  and  important,  and  the  risk  of  reproduction 
is  too  great  for  any  person  wilfully  to  run,  by  breeding 
from  a  roarei-.  As  far  as  I  can  learn,  it  appears  to  be 
much  more  hereditary  on  the  side  of  the  mare  than  on  that 
of  the  horse ;  and  not  even  the  offer  of  a  "  Yirago"  should 
tempt  me  to  use  her  as  a  brood-mare.  There  are  so  many 
conditions  of  what  is  termed  "roaring,"  that  it  is  difficult 
to  form  any  opinion  that  shall  apply  to  all  cases.     In  some 


80  HOW    TO   BREED   A   HORSE. 

instances,  where  it  lias  arisen  from  neglected  strangles, — 
generally  known  in  the  United  States  as  colt  distemper, — 
or  from  a  simple  inflammation  of  the  larynx,  the  result  of 
a  cold,  it  will  probably  never  reappear ;  but  when  the  gen- 
uine ideopathic  roaring  has  made  its  appearance,  appar- 
ently depending  upon  a  diseas3  of  the  nerves  of  the  larynx, 
it  is  ten  to  one  that  the  offspring  will  suffer  in  the  same 
way. 

"  Blindness,  again,  may  or  may  not  be  hereditary ;  but  in 
all  cases  it  should  be  viewed  with  suspicion  as  gTeat  as  that 
due  to  roaring.  Simple  cataract,  without  inflammation,  un- 
doubtedly runs  in  families  ;  and  when  a  horse  or  mare  has 
both  eyes  suffering  with  this  disease  without  any  other  de- 
rangement of  the  eye,  I  should  eschew  them  carefully. 
When  blindness  is  the  result  of  violent  inflammation  brought 
on  by  mismanagement,  or  by  influenza,  or  by  any  similar 
cause,  the  eye  itself  is  more  or  less  disorganized ;  and 
though  this  is  of  itself  objectionable,  as  showing  a  weak- 
ness of  the  organ,  it  is  not  so  bad  as  the  regular  cataract." 

The  writer  quoted  is  one  of  much  and  standard  author- 
ity, yet  it  is  questionable  whether,  in  his  desire  to  put  the 
question  fairly  in  all  its  lights,  he  has  not  laid  too  little 
rather  than  too  much  stress  on  both  these  perilous  affections. 
We  should  say,  under  no  possible  circumstances  breed  from 
a  stallion  which  has  any  affection  of  any  kind,  of  the  res- 
piratory organs,  whether  seated  in  the  lungs  or  in  the 
windpipe,  or  from  one  which  has  any  affection  of  the  eyes, 
unless  it  be  the  direct  result  of  an  accident,  such  as  a  blow 
or  a  puncture, — nor  even  then  if  the  accident  having  oc- 
curred to  one  eye,  the  other  has  sympathetically  followed 
suit ;  and,  on  the  other  side,  we  should  say,  on  no  account 
breed  from  a  mare  affected  in  either  way,  unless  she  be 
possessed  of  some  excellencies  so  extraordinary  and  coun- 
tervailing that  fjr  the  sake  of  preserving  the  stock,  one 


CHOICE   OF   THE   MARE.  31 

would  be  willing  to  run  some  risk  of  having  a  worthless 
anhnal  for  his  own  use,  in  the  hope  of  possibly  having  one 
free  from  the  dreaded  defect  and  of  superlative  excellence. 
In  any  event,  however,  the  practice  is  to  be  eschewed  and 
the  risk  to  be  considered  excessive. 

Previous  to  sendiog  the  mare  to  the  horse  she  should 
be  got  into  the  most  perfect  state  of  health  and  condition, 
by  moderate  exercise,  abundance  of  good  nutritious  food, 
and  warm  stabling.  It  is  not  desirable  that  she  should  be 
ill  a  pampered  state  produced  by  hot  stables  or  extraordi- 
nary clothing,  that  she  should  have  the  short  fine  coat,  or 
the  blooming  and  glowing  condition  of  the  skin,  for  which 
one  would  look  in  a  race-horse  about  to  contend  for  a  four 
mile  heat — not  that  she  should  be  in  that  wiry  form  of  sinew 
aad  steel-like  hardness  of  muscle,  which  is  only  the  result 
of  training.  Still  less  desirable  is  it  that  she  should  be 
ovci-louded  with  fot,  especially  of  that  soft  fat  generated  by 
artificial  feeding. 

Yv' hile  the  mare  is  carrying  her  foal,  during  the  first  three 
or  four  months  of  her  gestation,  she  Avill  be  much  the  better, 
not  the  worse,  fur  doing  her  ordinary  woik, — not  of  course 
galloping  long  distances  at  her  speed,  nor  trotting  matches, 
nor  doing  extraordinary  distances  on  the  road  ;  but,  if  she 
be  a  carriage  mare  or  a  hackney,  doing  her  regular  day's 
work  at  her  ordinary  pace  before  a  carriage  or  under  the 
saddle ;  or,  if  she  be  a  farm  mare,  going  through  the  usual 
routine  of  light  ploughing,  harrowing,  or  road- work,  never 
being  put  to  any  sudden  or  extreme  exertion,  such  as  being- 
made  to  pull  at  excessive  loads,  or  to  any  eflbrts  likely  to 
produce  sudden  jerks  or  strains,  which  are,  of  all  things, 
the  most  likely  to  cause  a  mare  to  slip  her  foal.  At  a  later 
period  hei-  \\ork  should  be  lighter  and  slower,  but  none 
the  less  regular,  nor  should  her  exercise  ever  be  wholly 
intermitted.     If  she  be  let  to  run  at  gi-ass,  she  should  be 


82  HOW   TO  BREED  A   HORSE. 

in  a  small  inclosure,  in  which  she  may  trot  indeed,  and 
even  canter,  or  gallop  at  half  speed,  but  in  which  she  can- 
not well  get  to  her  racing  speed,  or  she  will  be  likely  to 
overdo  herself,  besides  running  the  chance  of  getting  falls 
and  other  accidents,  which  may  produce  consequences  the 
most  disastrous.  Such  enclosures  should  be  divided  by 
fences  sufficiently  high  and  solid  that  they  shall  not  present 
to  the  animals  the  idea  of  being  easily  surmounted  or 
broken  through, — for  if  they  seem  to  be  so,  even  if  they  be 
not  so  in  realit}^,  the  mares  will  be  constantly  trying  to 
leap  them,  or  force  their  way  through  them,  and  bad,  per- 
haps fatal,  accidents  will  be  occurring.  It  is  a  far  better 
plan  to  have  the  fences  made,  at  least  at  the  upper  pai't,  of 
open  work,  so  that  the  animals  in  two  adjacent  lots  may 
be  able  to  see  one  another  and  communicate,  without  being 
able  to  get  at  each  other, — as  when  so  situated  they  will  be 
constantly  gently  trotting  to  and  fro  in  order  to  find  a  meth- 
od of  getting  together,  which  will  keep  them  in  proper  exer- 
cise,— than  to  confine  two  or  more  mares  in  the  same  lot  or 
enclosure,  as  in  that  case  they  will  be  apt,  in  play  and 
rivalry,  to  extend  themselves  too  much  in  their  speed,  and 
over-exert  themselves.  An  acre  is  ample  space  for  such  an 
enclosure,  and  it  should  be  provided  with  a  good  comfoi  t- 
able  hut  or  porch  for  shade  in  summer  and  warmth  in 
winter,  the  doorway  of  which  ought  not  to  be  less  than 
five  feet  in  width  and  eight  in  height,  with  the  angles  of 
the  door-posts  and  lintels  rounded  off*  in  order  to  prevent 
the  hips  from  being  injured  as  the  animal  passes  rapidly  and 
impetuously^  in  and  out,  or  from  the  poll,  being  injured  by 
the  throwing  up  the  head  suddenly  and  striking  the  sharp 
edge  of  the  lintel. 

The  food  of  the  mare  during  her  gestation  should  be 
liberal,  generous  and  nutritious,  without  heating ;  for  it  is 
to  be  remembered  that  during  this  time  the  female  has  to 


CHOICE   OF   THE   MARE.  33 

generate  blood  for  tlie  nonrislirncnt  of  lier  foetus  as  well  as 
of  herself.  Green  succulent  grasses  and  roots  are  excellent 
at  this  time,  as  clover,  lucerne,  green  corn  sowed  broadcast 
and  cut  young  for  the  purpose  ;  ruta  baga  turnips  and,  best 
of  all,  carrots.  Lai"ge  quantities  of  oats  or  of  corn  should 
not  be  given — if  the  latter  be  used  at  all,  it  should  be  old 
and  thoroughly  dried — though  it  is  not  advisable  to  cut 
them  off  entirely ;  from  four  to  eight  quarts  of  oats  may 
be  given  daily  with  advantage,  and  bran  mashes,  with  the 
oats  added  to  them,  steamed  or  moistened  with  hot  water, 
will  be  found  the  best  method  of  administering  them. 
There  is  no  more  certain  method  of  insuring  the  produc- 
tion of  a  poor,  under-sized,  starveling  and  weak-constitu- 
tioned  foal,  tban  to  starve  the  mother,  or  to  feed  her  on 
ill-suited  or  improper  food  during  her  gestation,  or  to  keep 
her  cold,  or  wet,  or  exposed  to  violent  changes  of  tempe- 
rature. Equal  care  should  be  taken  of  both  mother  and 
foal,  after  the  birth  of  the  young  animal ;  and  it  will  be 
found  well  to  repay  the  extra  expense  if  both  are  furnished 
with  a  little  oats  and  with  nutritious  food  of  the  descrip- 
tions named  above,  so  long  as  the  young  animal  is  suck- 
ing the  dam. 

"  Lastly,  the  temper,"  says  the  same  authority  on  whom 
we  have  already  drawm  so  largely,  "is  of  the  greatest  im- 
portance, by  whix^h  must  be  understood,  not  that  gentleness 
at  grass  which  may  lead  the  breeder's  family  to  pet  the 
mare,  but  such  a  temper  as  will  serve  the  purposes  of  the 
rider,  and  will  answer  to  the  stimulus  of  the  voice,  whip 
or  spur.  A  craven  or  a  rogue  is  not  to  be  thought  of  as 
the  mother  of  a  family;  and  if  the  mare  belong  to  a  breed 
which  is  remarkable  for  refusing  to  answer  the  call  of  the 
rider,  she  should  be  consigned  to  any  task  rather  than  the 
stud  farm.  ISTeither  should  a  mare  be  used  for  this  purpose 
which  had  been  too  irritable  to  train,  unless  she  happen  to 
2^ 


84  HOW   TO   BREED  A  HORSE. 

be  an  exceptional  case ;  but  if  of  an  irritable  family,  she 
would  be  worse  tlian  even  a  roarer  or  a  blind  one." 

Sulkiness  and  savageness,  and  even  the  liability  to  start 
and  shy  violently,  are  likewise  to  some  degree  hereditary; 
but  as  these  are  capable  of  being  modified  and  affected  in 
the  highest  degree,  if  not  absolutely  cured,  by  judicious 
and  humane  treatment  in  young  animals,  they  are  not  so 
essential  to  be  guarded  against. 


GENERAL     RULES. 

First.  Size,  symmetry  and  soundness  are  mostly  to  be 
regarded  in  the  mare ; — blood  from  the  sire,  beauty  from 
the  dam,  is  the  Golden  Eule. 

Second.  She  should  have  a  roomy  frame,  hips  somewhat 
sloping,  a  little  more  than  the  average  length,  wide-chested, 
deep  in  the  girth,  quarters  strong  and  well  let  down,  hocks 
wide  apart,  wide  and  deep  in  the  pelvis. 

Third.  In  temper  she  should  be  gentle,  courageous,  free 
from  all  irritability  and  viciousness. 

Fourth.  Previous  to  putting  her  to  the  horse  she  should 
be  brought  into  the  most  perfect  state  of  health,  not  over- 
fed, or  loaded  with  fat,  or  in  a  pampered  state,  but  by  ju- 
dicious exercise  and  an  abundance  of  nutritious  food  and 
proper  grooming  she  should  be  in  the  very  best  condition. 

Fifth.  During  gestation  she  should  have  generous  and 
nourishing,  but  not  heating  diet.  For  the  first  three  or  four 
months  she  may  be  worked  moderately,  and  even  to 
within  a  few  weeks  of  her  foaling  she  niay  do  light  work 
with  advantage  to  her  system. 


CHAPTER  III. 

HOW  TO  BREED  A  HOESE. MUTUAL    ADAPTATION    OF    SIRE    AND 

DAil. 

FIRST  CONSIDERATION  IN  IMPROVEMENT  OF  THE  *' COLD  "  BLOOD — RELATITE 
SIZE  OF  SIRE  AND  DAM — DEFECTS  IN  EITHER  PARENT,  HOW  REMEDIED  IN 
PROGENY— BLOODS   WHICH    "  HIT"  — GENERAL   RULE& 

In  the  jDrececling  chapters  we  have  shown  a  few  of  the 
general  principles  of  horse  breeding ;  the  advantages  aris- 
ing from  breeding  to  pure  blood  on  the  sire's  side,  what- 
ever the  quality  of  the  dam ;  the  points  of  symmetry  and 
strength  most  desirable,  the  necessity  for  perfect  structural 
and  constitutional  soundness  and  health,  on  both  sides,  and 
for  the  absence  of  hereditary  vice  of  temper ;  and,  lastly, 
the  state  of  health  to  be  aimed  at  in  the  dam,  as  well  pre- 
vious to  her  being  taken  to  the  horse  as  during  the  period 
of  her  gestation,  and  the  means  to  be  taken  to  attain  and 
preserve  that  condition  of  health,  or,  as  it  is  usually  termed 
among  horsemen,  condition^  emphatically.  We  shall  now 
proceed  to  show,  a  little  more  particularly,  what  are  the  im- 
provements to  be  obtained  in  different  varieties,  and  how 
this  improvement  is  to  be  produced ;  for  it  is  very  certain  that 
the  same  horse  will  not  answer  for  every  kind  of  mare,  but 
that,  on  the  contrary,  for  very  different  styles  of  dams  very 
different  styles  of  sires  will  be  required  to  produce  equal 
results  in  the  progeny.  Now,  it  may  be  stated  generally, 
that  the  ordinary  objects  of  breeding  up  are  twofold.  One, 
the  most  common  and  most  feasible,  is,  from  an  entirely 
cold  stock, — we  will  say,  for  example,  the  Cleveland  Bay, 
or,  the  nearest  approaches  to  be  found  to  it  in  this  country, 

[35] 


36  HOW   TO   BREED  A  HORSE. 

the  Conestoga  cart  mare,  or  tlie  larger  Yermont  draught 
mare — we  do  not  speak  in  this  connection  of  the  Morgan, 
or  the  Canadian,  or  the  Norman,  some  mares  of  which 
last  stock  have  been  recently  imported  into  this  country  ; 
since  all  of  these  have  some  strains,  more  or  less  distant, 
of  thorough  blood — to  raise  a  progeny  improved  in  spirit, 
speed,  lightness  of  action,  endurance  of  fatigue  and  cour- 
age, by  stinting  mares  of  that  stock  to  blood-horses.  This 
is  the  simplest  of  all  the  ends  to  be  attained,  and  can 
be  almost  certainly  accomplished,  by  sending  the  mare — 
taking  it  for  granted  that  she  is  sound  and  generally  well 
formed — to  any  thorough-bred  horse,  provided  he  also  is 
sound,  well-shaped  and  free  from  vice.  Any  such  horse 
will,  more  or  less,  improve  the  progeny,  both  in  blood  and 
in  form,  structure  and  strength  of  bones,  both  in  frame  and 
spirit,  without  any  especial  reference  to  the  particular  strain 
of  thorough  blood  from  which  he  himself  comes. 

In  the  second  and  third,  and  yet  more  in  later  gene- 
rations, when  blood  has  been  introduced,  and  the  dams  as 
well  as  the  sires  have  some  mixture  of  a  pure  lineage,  it  is 
more  requisite  to  look  to  families ;  since  some  families  no- 
toriously cross  well  with  others,  and  some  as  notoriously 
ill.  Of  course,  it  is  better  that  the  sire,  where  it  is  possible, 
should  be  of  a  racing  stock  that  is  famous  for  courage  and 
stoutness,  such  as  any  of  the  stocks  which  trace  remotely 
to  Herod,  Cade,  Kegulus,  Eclipse,  or  others  of  known  fame  ; 
but  thus  far  it  is  not  essential,  or  a  sine  qua  non^  since  every 
blood-horse,  even  if,  as  Sir  John  Fenwick  said,  in  ihe 
reign  of  Charles  II.,  he  be  the  meanest  hack  that  ever 
came  out  of  Barbary,  is  so  infinitely  superior  in  courage, 
stoutness  and  quality,  both  of  bone  and  sinew,  as  well  as 
blood,  to  the  best  cold-blooded  mare  that  ever  went  on 
a  shodden  hoof,  that  he  cannot  fail  to  improve  her  stock, 
whatever  may  be  liis  comparative  standing  among  racers. 


GENERAL    RULES.  37 

All,  therefore,  tliat  the  breeder  has  to  do  in  this  instance  is, 
to  satisfy  himself  that  the  horse  is  really  tliorough-hred — 
that  is  to  say,  traceable  on  both  sides  of  his  pedigree  to 
English  stud-book  race-horses — and  that  he  has  the  virtues 
and  has  not  the  defects  of  form  which  have  been  previously 
subjects  of  discussion.  Next  to  this,  there  must  be  a  har- 
mony in  the  size,  and,  to  some  extent,  in  the  forms  of  the 
animals.  The  putting  small  mares  to  gigantic  horses,  or 
colossal  mares  to  ponies,  in  order  to  give  size  to  the  off- 
spring, will  never  answer,  but,  on  the  contrary,  will  result 
in  the  production  of  rickety,  mal-formed  produce.  The 
mare,  as  it  has  been  said,  may  be  with  advantage  some- 
thing larger,  longer,  and  more  roomy  than  the  horse,  but 
not  too  much  so. 

We  should  say,  a  mare  of  sixteen  hands,  and  propor- 
tionate strength,  should  never  be  put  to  a  stallion  under 
fifteen  hands,  and  from  thence  up  to  fifteen  and  two  inches ; 
nor  a  mare  over  sixteen  hands  to  one  short  of  fifteen  and 
a  half,  up  to  fifteen,  three,  hands.  Still  less  should  little 
mares  be  put  to  tall  horses,  or  low  mares  to  leggy  horses, 
in  order  to  give  height.  If  the  brood  mare  be  low,  but 
long  and  roomy,  it  is  no  bad  fault ;  but  the  way  to  give 
size  to  the  progeny  is  to  select,  not  a  tall  or  leggy  horse 
for  the  stallion,  but  one  of  singularly  perfect  symmetry, 
not  much  higher  than  the  dam, — though  an  inch  or  two 
inches  will  do  no  harm,  provided  he  be  not  long  in  the 
legs  especially  from  the  knee  downward, — short-backed, 
close-coupled,  and  generally  strong  built — particularly  so 
in  those  points  where  the  mare  is  the  most  defective. 

We  stated  above  that  there  is  no  greater  blunder  than 
to  breed  an  animal  rickety  and  defective  in  one  point,  to 
another  imperfect  in  that  point,  or  even  unduly  developed 
in  it,  with  the  expectation  of  curing  both  defects  in  the 
progeny.     One  often,  however,  sees  both  mares  and  horses, 


88  now    TO    BREED   A   HORSE. 

with  some  one  or  more  faults  in  symmetry,  whicli  are  pos- 
itive defects,  although  only  in  a  secondary  degree,  and 
which  are,  at  the  same  time,  counterbalanced  by  so  great  a 
number  of  positive  advantages,  excellences  and  beauties, 
that  he  is  wise  to  waive  the  one  defect,  striving  to  remedy 
it,  in  view  of  the  other  good  to  be  hoped  for  from  the 
strain.  The  transmission  of  external  shapes  is  as  yet  a 
mystery,  and  probably  ever  will  continue  so.  No  one  can 
say  whether  the  stallion  or  the  mare  has  the  greater  share 
in  giving  structural  form  or  constitutional  disposition  to 
the  young  animal. 

Indeed,  there  seems  reason  to  believe  that  there  is  not 
any  invariable  rule  on  the  subject ;  but  that  some  dams 
and  some  sires  possess  an  extraordinary  power  of  impress- 
ing their  own  forms  and  stamping  their  own  images,  in 
the  greater  degree,  on  the  young.  The  general  I'ulc, 
however,  and  that  which  it  is  wise  to  observe  is,  that  like 
begets  like.  Therefore  the  practice  should  be  always, 
where  one  decides  to  breed  from  a  mare  slightly  defective 
in  one  point  of  symmetry,  to  select  a  stallion  as  excellent 
as  possible  in  that  point ;  and  if  one  be  resolved  for  any 
cause  to  breed  from  a  stallion  of  whose  blood,  or  beauty, 
or  performances  he  is  particularly  enamored,  and  that 
horse  be  weak  in  any  point  or  points,  to  put  to  him  what- 
ever mare  one  may  have  in  his  stud  most  excellent  where 
he  is  weakest ;  but  in  no  case,  even  if  it  prohibit  one  from 
breeding  from  that  horse  at  all,  to  put  him  to  a  mare 
which  is  faulty  in  the  same  part. 

The  second  ordinary  object  of  bree,ding-up  is,  where 
mares  of  some  highly  valued  strain,  possessing  some  degree 
of  pure  blood  engrafted  on  an  inferior  stock,  have  degen- 
erated in  size,  in  height,  strength  and  size  of  bone,  to  breed 
them  to  such  horses  as  shall,  without  deteriorating  their 
blood,  improve  them  in  size  and  bone.     This  is  a  far  more 


GENERAL   liULES.  €59 

difficult  question  in  breeding,  and,  before  it  can  be  an- 
swered, it  will  be  necessary  to  know  of  what  blood  is  the 
impure  portion  constituted,  and  in  what  proportion  does  it 
exist.  If  it  be  distinctly  of  cold  blood,  as  of  Cleveland 
bay,  Suffolk  Punch,  Conestoga,  or  common  cart-horse,  and 
if  the  proportion  of  thorough  blood  mixed  with  it  be  in- 
considerable, it  may,  at  once,  be  pronounced  useless  to 
take  any  pains  about  it,  as  the  results  will  not  repay  the 
trouble  or  expense.  K  the  proportion  of  pure  blood  be 
considerable,  but  remote,  and  the  stock  have  been  long  in 
hred — as,  for  example,  is  the  case  with  the  Morgans — the 
only  possible  way  to  breed  them  up  is  to  stint  the  mares 
to  the  very  best  and  most  powerfully  made,  short-coupled, 
broad-chested,  strong-loined,  short-legged,  thorough-bred 
stallions  that  can  be  found,  of  a  totally  distinct  recent 
strain  of  blood,  if  the  blood  of  the  mares  can  be  ascertained ; 
although  it  will  not  be  the  worse  if,  some  ten  or  more  gen- 
erations back,  they  both  run  into  the  same  line.  In  this 
case,  the  stallion,  in  the  first  cross,  should  not  be  taller  or 
larger  than  the  mare,  but  may  exceed  her  in  strength,  size 
of  bone,  and  muscular  development.  The  fillies  in  the 
second  generation  will  be  larger  in  all  ways  than  their 
dams — since  improvement  of  strength,  health,  symmetry, 
and  development  implies  improvement  in  size.  These 
fillies  may  be  again  put  to  horses  of  exactly  the  same 
stamp  as  that  last  described,  but  just  so  much  larger  than 
the  filly  as  the  filly  is  larger  than  her  dam.  This  will,  in 
all  probability,  achieve  the  desired  end.  This  is,  in  fact, 
what  is  known  among  breeders  as  breeding  iip^  in  the  true 
sense  of  the  word.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  the  mares,  de- 
generated, have  been  crossed  with  pure  English  blood,  but 
remotely  and  not  recently,  on  Canadian  or  imported  "N'or- 
man  stock,  there  will  be  no  objection  to  crossing  them 
back  once  to  Canadian  or  Norman  stallions ;  since  in  Can- 


40  HOW   TO   BREED   A   HORSE. 

adian  or  Norman  blood  there  is  a  remote,  dormant  strain 
of  pure  blood,  probably  Andalusian  Arab,  which  assim- 
ilates well  with  modern  thorough  blood  ;  and  the  breeding 
back  will  often,  in  that  case,  so  far  reinvigorate  the  race, 
that  the  fillies  produced  by  that  union  will  often  reproduce 
animals  of  astonishing  excellence  by  a  farther  cross  with 
well -chosen  thorough  blood  of  the  present  day. 

We  have  touched  slightly  on  the  effect  produced  by  the 
intermingling,  or  crossing  and  re-crossing  of  various  dis- 
tinct or  cognate  strains  of  blood,  and  the  result  on  the 
character  of  the  stock.  When  a  cross  of  this  sort  is  emi- 
nently successful  in  any  particular  line,  for  a  number  of 
years  and  in  a  majority  of  instances,  we  are  accustomed 
to  say  that  such  or  such  a  blood  has  ''hit"  or  "  nicked" 
with  another ;  and  this  effect  is  not  dependent  solely  on 
the  intrinsic  excellence  of  either  blood,  but  on  some  un- 
known and  mysterious  influence  produced,  in  one  or 
more  generations,  by  the  cross.  For  instance,  Priam,  the 
son  of  EmiUus,  son  of  Orville,  out  of  Emily,  and  Cressida, 
daughter  of  Whiskey,  out  of  Sorcerer's  dam  by  Diomed, 
was  not  only  one  of  the  most  successful  runners,  if  not 
the  most  successful,  of  his  day,  but  in  England  was  nearly 
as  successful  a  stallion,  having  begot,  previous  to  his  ex- 
portation, an  unusual  number  of  winners.  He  was  subse- 
quently purchased  and  brought  to  this  country,  where  the 
most  sanguine  expectations  were  formed  of  the  great  ad- 
vantage which  would  accrue  from  the  infusion  of  his  sin- 
gularly rich  and  noble  blood.  The  result,  however,  was 
diametrically  opposite  to  that  which  was  expected, 
i.  Scarcely  a  horse  of  any  repute  has  been  begotten  by 
this  stallion  in  the  United  States,  although  his  high  repu- 
tation for  blood,  beauty,  and  performances,  procured  for 
him  more  than  his  proportion  of  the  best  blooded  and 
otherwise  best  mares  in   the  country.     Many  persons — 


GENERAL  RULES.  41 

some  of  them  excellent  judges — entertain  the  opinion  that 
the  Priam  cross  has  done  permanent  mischief  to  the  horse 
stock  of  America,  as  it  is  alleged  that  nearly  all,  if  not  all 
his  get,  although  they  have  large,  flat,  bony  knees,  are 
tied  in,  as  it  is  technically  termed,  immediately  below  the 
knee,  at  the  origin  of  the  splint  boDC.  This  malformation 
is  one  of  the  most  serious  that  can  exist  in  a  race  or  family 
of  horses,  as  it  renders  them  liable,  and,  in  fact,  almost 
certainly  so,  to  break  down,  when  put  to  any  severe  stress 
of  work.  At  all  events,  it  is  indisputable  that  the  blood 
of  Priam  has  not  "  hit"  or  "  nicked"  with  the  best  racing 
blood  of  America. 

To  take  another  instance,  Glencoe,  another  distinguished 
English  runner,  of  equally  distinguished  blood,  though  of 
a  distinct  strain,  being  the  son  of  Sultan,  son  of  Selim, 
and  of  Trampoline,  daughter  of  Tramp  out  of  Web  by 
Waxy,  w\as  imported  into  this  country  a  few  years  later 
than  Priam,  with  equally  high  expectations  of  success, 
which  have  in  his  instance  been  fully  realized,  if  not  ex- 
ceeded ;  for  his  stock  are  of  tlie  very  best  now  running  in 
the  country.  Therefore,  we  say  emphaticalty,  that  the 
Glencoe  stock  has  "  hit"  most  eminently  with  the  old  blood 
of  America,  which,  it  must  always,  however,  bs  remem- 
bered, is,  in  no  respect,  so  far  as  it  is  pure  blood,  American 
or  of  American  origin,  but  (mly  descended  from  the  earlier 
importations  of  the  old  English  blood  of  the  days  of  Janus, 
Eclipse,  Highflyer,  and  the  sons  of  Childers,  and  the  Go- 
dolphin.  Kow,  why  one  blood  should  "  hit"  and  another 
"miss,"  when  each  strain  is  equally  rich  and  pure,  and 
when  each  has  produced  an  equal  number  of  distinguished 
performers,  no  one  can  say  positively ;  no  distinct  reasons 
have  ever  been  assigned,  nor,  theoreticalh^,  can  an}^  prin- 
ciple be  laid  down  on  the  subject.  The  blood  of  Priam, 
as  it  has  been  shown,  above,  "hit"  with  the  fashionable 


42  HOW   TO   BREED  A   HORSE. 

blood  of  England,  and  signally  '•'  missed"  with  that  of 
America.  On  the  contrary,  the  blood  of  Glencoe  "  hit" 
with  the  most  fashionable  blood  of  both  co^intries ;  and 
although  he  has  got  more  fine  stock  in  America,  owing  to 
his  liaving  served  here  during  a  much  longer  period,  and 
of  course,  covered  more  fine  mares,  is  scarcely  more  famous 
as  a  stock  getter  in  this  than  in  the  mother  countrj^  In 
like  manner,  Leviathan,  Sovereign  and  Sarpedon  have  all 
"  hit"  more  or  less  decidedly,  with  the  older  English  blood 
of  America ;  and  Trustee  must  not  be  forgotten,  both  as 
the  sire  of  the  incomparable  Fashion,  and  as  a  horse  who 
has  been  extraordinarily  fortunate  in  getting  roadsters  of 
high  quality  out  of  common  mares. 

Now,  although  there  is  no  possibility  of  predicting, 
absolutely,  what  bloods  will  and  will  not  hit,  there  are  at 
least  some  facts  established  which  will  enable  us  to  ven- 
ture a  conjecture  on  the  subject.  It  is  well  known  to  be 
the  habit  of  gregarious  and  polygamous  animals,  such  as 
horses,  oxen,  and  some  others,  which  are  not  long-lived — 
but  of  which  the  largest  and  most  powerful  males  enjoy 
the  company  of  the  females  of  their  own  troop  or  band, 
of  which  they  are  the  lords  and  Sultans,  and  from  which 
they  beat  off  and  banish  the  younger  and  inferior  animals 
of  their  own  sex — to  copulate,  for  at  least  two  or  three 
generations,  with  their  own  female  descendants,  while  in 
a  state  of  nature.  As  they  decline  in  strength,  vigor  and 
courage  with  the  increase  of  years,  they  are  in  their  turn 
beaten  off,  and  compelled  to  give  way  to  some  more  power- 
ful rival,  in  the  pride  and  maturity  of  equine  manhood, 
perhaps  from  a  different  horde  of  animals,  and  almost 
certainly  from  a  distinct  strain  of  blood.  Hence  we  come 
to  the  conclusion  that  horses  in  a  wild  state  are  accustomed 
to  breed  into  the  same  family  and  blood;  that  is  to  say, 
with  their  own  daughters  and  grand-daughters,  for  about 


ADAPTATION   OF   SIRE   AND   DAM.  43 


in- 


two  generations — this  is  what  is  known  to  horse-men  as 
breeding — and  then  for  many  after  generations  to  breed 
with  strangers,  or  very  remote  connections.  And  it  is 
worthy  of  remark  that,  although  there  are  two  distinct 
theories,  exactly  opposite  to  each  other,  one  in  favor  of 
in -breeding,  the  other  of  out-crossing,  several  of  the  best 
strains  of  blood  on  the  English  turf  are  directly  traceable 
to  an  original  incestuous  connexion.  ^ 

Some  of  the  most  distinguished  families,  for  instance,  of 
English  racers,  trace  to  Spanker,  a  very  high-bred  horse, 
and  very  close  to  Arab  stock  on  both  sides,  and  his  own 
dam :  and  where  no  near  connexion  has  existed  for  many 
years  in  the  blood  of  any  peculiar  family,  it  is  on  the 
whole  the  most  approved  method,  to  breed  m,  that  is,  be- 
tween close  blood  relations,  for  two,  or  perhaps  three 
generations,  and  then  to  seek  for  some  strain  of  blood  as 
remote  as  possible  by  which  to  vary  and  reinvigorate  the 
strain.  This  plan  of  breeding  has  been  of  late  years  very 
fashionable  in  England,  and  the  result  has  been  shown 
very  beneficially  in  several  families  famous  for  their  quali- 
ties of  speed,  endurance,  and  recuperation,  at  present  on 
the  turf  It  is  certain,  on  the  other  hand,  that  to  persist 
too  long  in  breeding,  generation  after  generation,  in  and 
171,  is  the  most  prejudicial  of  all  modes;  and  that  animals 
so  unnaturally  connected  in  blood,  degenerate  in  bone,  in 
size,  in  stature,  and  ultimately  in  all  qualities. 

Whenever,  therefore,  it  is  known,  or  strongly  susj^ected, 
that  in  any  family  too  long  and  persistent  an  adherence 
has  been  had  to  one  and  the  same  blood,  and  still  n-iore, 
wherever  the  present  generation  is  seen  to  have  greatly  de- 
generated in  size,  recourse  should  be  had  to  a  strain  of 
blood  as  widely  different  as  possible,  in  order  to  freshen 
and  strengthen  the  stock. 


4A  HOW  TO   BREED  A  HOESE. 

"We  may  deduce,  then,  the  following  summary  of  Gene- 
ral Rules. 

First.  There  should  be  a  mutual  adaptation  in  form  and 
size,  and  indeed,  in  all  important  characteristics  between 
the  sire  and  the  dam. 

Second.  If  the  mare  be  defective  in  any  particular,  do 
not  breed  her  to  a  stallion  having  a  similar,  or  even  an  op- 
posite fault ;  but  rather  choose  one  perfect  in  that  point. 

Third.  Avoid  breeding  exceedingly  small  mares  with 
enormously  large  horses :  distortions  will  generally  be  the 
result.  For  a  mare  of  16  hands,  select  a  horse  of  not  less 
than  15  hands ;  if  she  be  too  low  or  small,  the  horse  may 
be  an  inch  or  two  higher,  but  not  of  the  tall  or  leggy 
kind. 

Fourth.  It  is  frequently  the  case  that  without  any  known 
cause,  the  blood  of  a  certain  strain  of  horses  will  not 
cross  well  with  that  of  anotlier.  Such  instances,  when  as- 
certained should  be  avoided. 

Fifth.  If  the  mare  is  of  a  good  strain  of  horses  but 
one  which  has  degenerated  in  size  from  '' in-breeding,"  the 
only  remedy  is  to  breed  to  the  purest  stallion  that  can  be 
found,*  but  of  a  different  strain  from  hers,  unless  some  ten 
or  more  generations  removed. 

Sixth.  After  breeding  for  several  generations  from 
males  and  females  of  one  strain,  it  will  generally  be  found 
beneficial  to  change  to  another  entirely  different.  Degen- 
eracy in  size  will  generally  result  from  a  neglect  of  this 
rule. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

HOW   TO    BEEED    A    HORSE CANADIAN    BLOOD. 

THE  CANADIAN  ORIGINALLY  THE  FRENCH  NORMAN — CHARACTERISTICS— HARDI- 
HOOD—SPEED— MODE    OF    IMPROVING    THEM— CROSSING    WITH    THOROUGH- 
'       BREDS. 

There  is  one  breed  or  stock  of  horses  to  which,  thus  flxr, 
we  have  but  casually  alluded.  We  mean  the  Canadian. 
It  deserves,  probably,  a  more  extended  notice,  as  being  in 
itself,  in  the  first  place,  a  perfectly  distinct  family,  where 
pure ;  and  in  the  second,  as  being  very  widely  extended, 
both  in  its  mixed  and  unmixed  form,  in  the  Northern 
and  Eastern  States;  and,  moreover,  as  being  itself  an 
exceedingly  valuable  animal  as  a  working  horse,  and  a 
progenitor,  or  progenitrix.  The  Canadian  horse  where  he 
is  yet  to  be  found  in  his  pure  state, — that  is  to  say,  un- 
crossed with  either  the  English  thorough -bred,  or  the 
English  high-bred  stallion  of  the  hunter  caste, — is  origi- 
nally, beyond  doubt,  the  French  ISTorman  horse ;  and  even 
where  the  crosses  mentioned  still  exist,  the  French  Norman 
blood  vastly  preponderates.  The  present  characteristics 
of  the  Canadian  are — a  head  rather  large  than  otherwise, 
but  lean,  bony,  and  well  formed,  with  an  unusually  broad 
forehead,  with  the  ears  far  apart,  carried  loftily,  a  small 
clear  eye,  and  a  courageous  aspect ;  a  bold  upstanding,  but 
thick  crest ;  a  broad,  full  chest  and  a  strong  shoulder,  a 
little  apt  to  be  too  straight,  as  well  as  to  be  low  and  heavy 
at  the  withers ;  a  stout,  strongly -framed  barrel,  the  charac- 

[45] 


46  HOW   TO   BREED   A    HORSE. 

teristic  fault  of  whicli  is,  to  be  somewhat  flatsided,  and  not 
•unfrcquentlj  too  long;  excellent  loins;  a  round,  fleshy 
croup;  muscular  thighs;  and,  above  all,  the  soundest, 
most  undeniable,  flat-boned  legs  that  are  to  be  found  in 
any  race  of  horses  not  thorough-bred,  and  the  toughest, 
hardest  and  most  iron-like  feet  that  are  to  be  found  in  any 
race  whatsoever.  In  fact,  immunity  from  disease  of  the 
legs  and  feet,  under  the  most  unfavorable  circumstances, — 
when  ill-groomed,  ill-shod,  and  subject  to  every  trial  and 
hardship, — appeals  to  be  the  distinguishing  mark  of  the 
French  Canadian  horse.  There  is  no  horse,  probablj^,  in 
the  known  world,  to  which  all  ordinary  diseases  of  the 
foot,  and  especially  that  which  is  knowu  as  foot-founders, 
are  so  nearly  unknown ;  and  it  has  been  well  stated  by 
an  intelligent  writer,  well  versed  in  the  peculiarities  of 
this  particular  race,  that  "  tliere  are  numbers  of  horses  in 
Canada  that,  under  a  mass  of  shaggy  hair,  never  trimmed, 
and  rarely  cleaned  or  dried,  possess  dry,  sinewy  legs,  on 
which  the  severest  service  never  raises  a  wind-gall." 

In  addition  to  these  characteristics,  the  Canadians  arc 
generally  distinguishable  by  their  colors,  of  which  the  pre- 
vailing one  is  black ;  and,  probably  the  second,  rich  dark 
brown,  often  dappled  with  lighter  brown  on  the  shoulders 
and  quarters.  After  these  colors  come  chestnuts  of  differ- 
ent shades,  but  generally  running  to  the  sorrels  and  duns, 
with  manes,  tails  and  legs  of  lighter  color  than  the  bod}^ ; 
and  lastly,  dark  iron-greys  with  black  legs.  The  last,  how- 
ever, which  in  Normandy  is  at  the  present  day,  with  the 
single  exception  of  black,  the  commonest  color,  is,  in  Cana- 
da and  the  United  States,  the  least  common.  The  true 
Canadians  are  remarkable  for  the  great  volumes  of  their 
manes  and  tails,  which  are  also  distinguished  by  the  pecu- 
liar wavy  and  almost  curly  texture  of  the  hairs  composing 
them,  and  for  the   shaggy  coating  of  their  back  sinews 


CANADIANS.  47 

nearly  to  ttie  knee,  and  of  their  fetlocks.  In  height  the 
Canadian  rarely  exceeds  fifteen  hands,  and  in  fact  seldom 
attains  to  that  standard  ;  from  fourteen  to  fourteen  hands 
and  a  half  being  their  usual  size.  They  are  not  generally 
speedy,  even  at  ordinary  road  speed  ;  still  less  often  are 
they  fleet,  or  what  would  be  called /as^;  though  there  are 
exceptions,  as  for  instance  the  celebrated  trotting  stallion 
St.  Lawrence,  who  has  gone  fast  among  fast  horses,  and 
has  been  so  long  on  the  trotting  turf  as  to  show  that  he 
possesses  in  a  high  degree  the  hardy  endurance  of  his  race. 
Their  best  rate  of  going,  for  fair,  ordinary  travellers, — not 
select  specimens, — does  not,  perhaps,  exceed  six  or  seven 
miles  the  hour ;  but  at  whatever  rate  they  can  go  at  all,  at 
that  rate  they  can  go  before  or  under  a  heavy  load,  and 
for  a  long,  continuous  distance.  Many  Canadians  will  do 
fifty  miles  a  day  for  several  successive  clays ;  and  not  a 
few  can  be  found  which  will  accomplish  sixty,  seventy, 
eighty,  and  even  ninety,  for  one  day ;  and  the  lesser  rates 
for  a  proportionate  length  of  time. 

It  seems  remarkable  that  such  should  be  the  case,  but 
wo  are  strongly  disposed  to  believe  that,  even  in  these 
days  of  horse  improvement,  horse  fiiirs  and  agricultural 
progress,  no  systematical  attempts  have  ever  been  made 
to  improve  the  Canadians  themselves  in  their  pure  form  ; 
although  many  have  been  made,  with  great  success,  to 
create  improved  crosses  by  the  intermixture  of  them  with 
other  races.  No  race,  probably,  is  more  susceptible  of 
direct  improvement  than  this ;  and,  as  their  excellence  is 
universally  acknowledged,  both  as  the  small  poor  farmer's 
working  and  draught  horse,  for  which  they  are  adapted 
above  all  American  breeds,  and  as  brood  mares,  from 
which  to  raise  a  highly  improved  and  useful  general 
working  roadster,  by  breeding  them  to  thorough-breds, 


48  HOW   TO   BREED   A   HORSE. 

according  to  the  rules  heretofore  laid  down,  it  is  evident 
that  this  is  an  end  most  devoutly  to  be  wished. 

It  would  seem  that,  after  the  first  importation  of  the 
ISTorman  horse  by  the  early  French  settlers,  there  were 
few  importations  of  fresh  strains  of  Norman  blood  from 
the  mother  country,  in  which  continual  systematic  im- 
provements have  been  made ;  and  that,  certainl}-,  from 
the  date  of  the  English  conquest  of  Canada,  no  efforts 
whatever  have  been  made  to  procure  the  breed  in  its 
purity,  or  to  raise  its  standard  in  height,  to  lighten  its 
heavier  and  worse  points,  or  to  increase  its  speed  and 
beauty,  all  of  which  might  unquestionably  be  effected  by 
judicious  management.  The  effect  of  this  continued  breed- 
ing into  the  same  exact  strain,  generation  ofter  generation, 
has  been  the  same  as  it  was  with  the  Virginia  race-horse 
prior  to  the  recommencement  of  the  importation  of  tho- 
rough blood,  subsequent  to  the  American  Revolution. 
The  strength,  the  courage,  the  hlood^  in  a  word,  was  there, 
but  the  size  had  deteriorated. 

The  first  and  simplest  mode  of  improving  the  Canadians 
as  Canadians — that  is  to  say,  without  endeavoring  to  raise 
them  to  a  higher  degree  ^of  blood — is,  to  select  the  largest 
and  most  shapely  mares  of  that  breed,  and  more  particu- 
larly such  as  are  the  most  free  from  the  characteristic 
faults  of  the  Canadians,  viz.,  the  thick  neck,  low,  heavy 
withers,  straight  shoulder  and  flat  side  ;  then  to  select  the 
best  stallions  of  that  breed,  having  regard  to  the  very 
same  points  named  above, — and  to  see  that  the  mare  is  in 
fine  breeding  condition  when  put  to  the  horse.  Care  be- 
ing had  to  follow  up  this  plan  judiciously,  and  to  keep  the 
mare  during  her  pregnancy  and  the  nourishment  of  her  foal 
liberally  and  comfortably  fed  and  sheltered,  though  not  to 
force  either  mother  or  offspring,  as  is  done  with  thorough- 
breds, by  hot  lodging  and   over  stimulating  provender, 


GENERAL    RULES.  49 

there  cannot  be  a  doubt  but  that,  in  course  of  two  or  three 
generations,  at  farthest,  an  inch,  or  perhaps  even  a  couple 
of  inches,  might  be  added  to  the  stature  of  the  Canadians, 
without  deteriorating. — we  should  rather  say  while  im- 
proving upon — their  original  merits  of  bone  and  sinew, 
and  amending  the  more  defective  points  of  their  shape. 
Apart  from  their  natural  good  qualities  as  farming  horses, 
teamsters  and  animals  of  moderately  quick  draft,  the  Cana- 
dians, with  the  single  exception  of  the  Percheron  Nor- 
mans, which  are, — after  all  is  -said,  nothing  but  Canadians 
in  their  best  form, — are  the  only  horses  of  cold  blood  from 
which  we  believe  it  advisable  to  breed  on  both  sides ;  that 
is,  both  from  the  stallions  and  mares  ;  either  each  to  each, 
for  the  maintenance  of  their  own  blood,  or  each  to  others, 
for  the  improvement  of  various  foreign  strains*  By  care- 
fully breeding  Canadian  mares  to  Canadian  stallions  ac- 
cording to  the  directions  above  stated,  or  still  more  to  im- 
ported Normans,  an  improved  Canadian  can  be  produced, 
taller,  more  shapely,  and  perhaps  lighter  in  the  neck  and 
shoulders,  and  speedier.  This  will  be,  of  course,  a  better 
animal  both  for  work  and  for  breeding  than  the  present 
race.  By  breeding  the  present  Canadian  mare,  or  still 
better,  improved  progeny,  to  well-selected  thorough-bred 
horses,  a  very  good  roadster  and  highly  improved  light 
carriage-horse  will  be  the  result ;  and  by  breeding  the 
female  offspring  of  this  cross  again  to  the  thorough-bred,  of 
sufficient  bone  and  size,  we  do  not  doubt  that  the  finest 
saddle-horses,  phaeton  horses  or  light  carriage  horses  in 
the  world  can  be  produced,  nearly  of  the  same  style  as 
the  Morgans,  but  superior  to  what  the  Morgans  ever  were, 
in  their  best  day. 

The  male  offspring  of  all  crosses  or  half-breeds — we  do 
not  include  imported  Norman  into  Canadian  in  the  cate- 


50  HOW  TO  BREED  A  HORSE. 

gorj  of  crosses — should  invariably  be  castrated.  For  our 
own  part,  we  should  consider  it  a  most  desirable  thing,  if 
possible,  that  there  should  not  be  such  a  thing  as  a  half-bred 
stallion  in  the  world ;  but  that  all  the  distinct  breeds,  as 
Canadians,  Yermonters,  quasi  identical  with  Cleveland 
bays,  and  Conestogas,  quasi  identical  with  the  English  im- 
proved dray-horses,  should  be  preserved  distinct  by  breed- 
ing the  mares  to  stallions  of  their  own  families,  unless 
when  it  is  desirable  to  lighten  the  stock ;  and  then  to 
lighten  it  by  breeding  to  thorough-breds.  Canadian  or 
Norman  stallions  are  the  only  male  horses  which  we  would 
ever  put  to  any  lighter  mares  of  American  blood ;  but  we 
are  strongly  of  opinion  that  both  the  Morgan  mares  and 
the  ordinary  better  class  American  farming  mares,  which 
have  some  indefinably  remote  cross  of  better  blood  than 
the  cart-horse,  can  be  made  to  produce  a  progeny  highly 
improved,  hardened  in  bone,  bettered  in  legs,  feet,  and  con- 
stitution, and  more"  adapted  for  being  the  mothers  of  fine, 
large  carriage-horses,  by  breeding  them  to  Normans, 
whether  native  or  imported.  It  is  a  remarkable  quality 
of  the  Normans,  that  though  small  themselves,  when 
crossed, — either  males  to  other  races,  or  females  to  tho- 
rough-breds,— they  almost  invaribly  breed  larger  instead 
of  breeding  smaller  than  themselves. 


CHAPTER    V. 

HOW    TO    BREED    A    HORSE NORMAN    BLOOD. 

ORIGIN    AND    HISTORY   OF   THE    PERCHEROX    NORMAN — A   PURE    RACE—CHA- 
RACTERISTICS  AND   POINTS— IMPORTATION   INTO   THIS  COUNTRY. 

In  the  preceding  chapters  on  this  subject,  we  have  had 
occasion  to  speak  of  the  Percheron  Norman  horse,  some  of 
which  breed  have  been  within  a  few  years,  comparatively 
speaking,  introduced  into  this  country  ;  and,  believing  that 
the  knowledge  of  this  race  at  all,  and  still  more  of  its  ex- 
istence in  the  United  States,  is  confined  to  a  small  number 
of  persons,  and  for  the  most  part  to  a  single  locality,  we 
have  thought  it  would  be  not  uninteresting  to  our  agricul- 
tural readers  to  give  a  brief  account  of  the  animal,  its 
derivation,  its  importation  into  this  country,  and  of  the 
benefits  which  are,  we  fully  believe,  to  be  derived  from  its 
employment.  In  the  first  place,  then,  Le  Perche  is  a  dis- 
trict of  that  portion  of  France  which  was  formerly  known 
as  Kormandy,  in  which  the  breed  of  the  Norman  horses 
has  been  most  highly  cultivated,  and  exists  in  its  most 
perfect  form  and  improved  condition.  Indeed,  by  some 
means  somewhat  anomalous,  and  at  variance  with  the  gen- 
eral experience  and  principles  of  breeding,  this  breed, 
which  must  in  its  origin  have  been  a  cross,  has,  in  the 
process  of  many  ages,  become  a  family  perfect  in  itself, 
capable  of  transmitting  its  qualities  and  reproducing  itself, 
like  to  like,  without  any  loss  of  energies  or  characteristics 
by  breeding  mares  and  stallions  of  the  same  race  together. 
The  remarkable  purity  of  the  race  is  attested  by  the  cer- 

[51] 


52  now   TO   BREED   A   HORSE. 

tainty  witli  wliicli  the  stallions  transmit  to  their  progeny, 
begotten  on  mares  of  a  different  race,  their  own  character- 
istics, and  the  high  degree  in  which  the  offspring  of  the 
mares,  bred  to  horses  of  superior  class,  retain  the  better 
qualities  of  their  dams.  For  it  appears  to  be  a  certain  rule 
in  breeding,  that  the  purer  the  blood,  and  the  higher  the 
vital  energy  and  vigor  of  either  parent,  in  the  greater 
degree  does  that  parent  transmit  its  properties  to  the 
young — although,  as  before  insisted  upon,  the  certain  trans- 
missions of  the  larger  portion  of  those  energies  is  always 
on  the  stallion's  side,  and  it  is  only  in  the  longer  retention 
of  an  inferior  proportion  of  her  qualities  by  the  progeny 
that  the  better  blood  of  the  dam  can  be  traced  when  bred 
to  an  inferior  sire.  When  bred  to  a  purer  blooded  stallion 
than  herself,  the  more  pure  blood  the  mare  herself  has  the 
more  strongly  will  her  own  marks  descend  to  her  progeny, 
and  the  less  will  they  be  altered  or  modified  by  those  of 
the  sire. 

Now,  the  Percheron  ISTormans  are  clearly  a  pure  race 
perse;  we  do  not  mean  by  the  words,  a  thorough-bred 
race,  but  a  race  capable  of  producing  and  reproducing 
themselves  ad  infinitum,,  unaltered,  and  without  deterio- 
ration of  qualities,  by  breeding  like  sires  to  like  dams, 
without  infusion  of  any  other  blood,  just  as  is  done  by 
Durham,  Ayrshire,  or  Alderney  cattle,  by  setters,  pointers, 
greyhounds,  and,  in  a  word,  by  any  and  all  animals  of 
distinct  and  perfect  varieties  of  the  same  species.  The 
only  remarkable  thing  in  this  case  is,  that  such  should  be 
the  facts,  under  the  circumstances,  of  the  Percheron  Nor- 
mans, being  originally — as  they  are  beyond  a  doubt — the 
produce  of  a  cross,  although  a  most  remote  cross  in  point 
of  time.  The  original  Norman  horse  now  nearly  extinct, 
which  was  the  war-horse  of  the  iron-clad  chivalry  of  the 
earliest   ages — of  William    the   Conqueror,  and   Eichard 


NOKMANS.  53 

Coeur  de  Lion,  is  thus  accurately  described  by  the  im- 
porter of  the  Percherons  into  New  Jersey:  "They  ave- 
rage," he  says,  and  we  are  personally  cognizant  of  hiff 
accuracy,  "full  sixteen  hands  in  height,  with  head  short, 
thick;  wide  and  hollow  between  the  eyes;  jaws  heavy; 
ears  short,  and  pointed  well  forward  ;  neck  very  short  and 
thick;  mane  heavy;  shoulder  well  inclined  backward; 
back  extremely  short ;  rump  steep ;  quarters  very  broad  ; 
chest  wide  and  deej) ;  tendons  large ;  muscles  excessively 
developed  ;  legs  short,  particularly  from  the  knee  and  hock 
to  the  fetlock,  and  thence  to  the  coronet,  which  is  covered 
with  long  hair,  covering  half  the  hoof;  much  hair  on  the 
legs."  It  was  soon  found  even  while  complete  armor  was 
in  use,  that  these  enormous,  bony  Normans,  which  are  stil] 
though  deteriorated  the  ordinary,  heavy  draught  horses 
of  France,  had  not  sufficient  speed  to  render  the  cavalry 
charge  effective,  or  sufficient  blood  to  give  spirit  adequate 
to  the  endurance  of  long-continued  toil.  The  Andalusian 
horse,  which  in  its  highest  form,  was  a  pure  barb  of  Mo- 
rocco, imported  into  Spain  by  the  Saracen  Moors  under 
Tarik,  who  has  left  his  name  to  the  ro3k  of  Gibraltar,  and 
in  its  secondary  form,  a  half-bred  horse,  between  the 
African  barbs  and  the  old  Spanish  horse,  which  had  long 
before  received  a  large  tincture  of  Oriental  blood  from  the 
ISTumidian  chargers  of  the  Carthagenians,  who  so  long  oc- 
cupied that  country,  proved,  in  its  unmixed  state,  too  light 
for  the  enormous  weight  of  a  caparisoned  man-at-arms,  or, 
if  occasionally  equal  to  that  weight,  too  costly  to  be  within 
the  means  of  any  but  crowned  heads.  "  The  bone  and 
muscle,"  observes  the  same  writer  we  have  before  quoted, 
*'  and  much  of  the  form  of  the  Percheron,  come  from  this 
horse" — that  is,  from  the  old  Norman  war-horse  previously 
described ;  "  and  he  gets  his  spirit  and  action  from  the 
Andalusian.      Docility  comes  from  both  sides.     On  the 


54  HOW   TO  BREED  A   HORSE. 

expulsion  of  the  Spaniards  from  tlie  Northern  Provinces, 
the  supply  of  Arabian  stallions  was  cut  off,  and,  since  that 
time,  in  the  Perche  district  of  Normandy,  their  progeny 
has,  doubtless,  been  bred  in  and  in ;  hence  the  remarkable 
uniformity  of  the  breed,  and  the  disposition  to  impart  their 
form  to  their  progeny  beyond  any  breed  of  domestic  an- 
imals within  my  knowledge.  Another  circumstance 
which,  I  think,  has  tended  to  perpetuate  the  good  qualities 
of  these  horses,  is  the  fact  of  their  males  being  kept  entire ; 
a  gelding  is,  I  believe,  unknown  among  the  rural  horses 
of  France.  You  may  be  startled  at  this  notion  of  mine, 
but,  if  you  reflect  a  moment,  you  must  perceive  that  in 
such  a  state  of  things — so  contrary  to  our  practice  and  that 
of  the  English — the  farmer  will  always  breed  from  the  best 
horse,  and  he  will  have  an  opportunity  of  judging,  because 
the  horse  has  been  broken  to  harness,  and  his  qualities 
known,  before  he  could  command  business  as  a  stallion." 
There  can  be  no  possible  question  that  the  writer  is  correct 
in  this  view  of  the  advantage,  so  far  as  breeding  is  con- 
cerned, of  preserving  all  horses  entire  and  ungelded ;  as  it 
must  naturally  and  necessarily  follow,  where  a  great 
majority  of  the  males  of  any  breed  are  gelded  when  young 
colts,  and  a  few  only  are  selected  to  some  extent  by  chance 
to  serve  as  stallions,  that  many  of  the  very  best,  and  per- 
haps actually  the  best,  of  every  year,  are  deprived  of  the 
means  of  perpetuating  their  excellence.  This,  undoubtedlj^, 
is  one  of  the  causes  of  the  constant  preservation,  if  not  im- 
provement, of  the  race-horse ;  that,  inasmuch  as  thorough- 
bred colts  are  never,  unless  from  some  peculiar  cause,  such 
as  indomitable  vice,  deprived  of  their  virility,  the  breeder 
has  all  the  males  of  the  race  from  which  to  select  a  stallion 
at  his  pleasure,  instead  of  having  only  a  small  number 
from  wliich  to  select.  Yet  even  in  the  thorough-breds 
the  breeder  sometimes  has  cause  to  regret  the  caprice  or 


NORMANS.  65 

error  of  an  owner,  which  has  allowed  a  colt  to  be  deprived 
of  his  sex,  whose  after  qualities  j)roved  him  to  be  emi- 
nently worthy  and  preeminently  adapted  to  become  the 
father  of  a  noble  line.  Who,  for  instance,  but  must  regret 
that  St.  Nicholas,  that  noble  specimen  of  a  race -horse, 
perhaps  the  best  now  running  on  American  soil,  should  be 
a  gelding,  and  incapable  of  transmitting  his  blood  and  his 
honors  to  posterity  ? 

Now,  the  points  of  the  peculiar  breed  known  as  the 
Percheron  Normans  are  these :  First,  they  are  considerably 
taller  than  the  Canadian  horses,  among  which,  it  is  be- 
lieved, the  Percheron  blood  is  still  to  be  found,  though 
degenerated  in  stature,  from  cold,  exposure,  and  ill-usage. 
Their  standard  is  j)robably  from  fourteen  and  a  half  to 
fifteen  and  a  half  hands,  the  latter  height,  however,  being 
as  much  above  the  average,  perhaps,  as  sixteen  hands  is 
above  that  of  ordinary  horses.  Secondly,  they  are  very 
short  in  the  saddle-place,  and  comparatively  long  below  ; 
they  are  well  ribbed-up  and  round-barreled,  instead  of 
having  the  flat  sides  and  sway  backs  which  are  the  most 
defective  points  of  many  of  the  Canadians  ;  they  have  not 
the  heavy  head  and  extremely  short,  thick  neck  of  the  old 
Norman  horse,  and  many  of  his  descendants  on  this  side 
of  the  ocean;  but,  on  the  contrary,  have  the  head  short, 
with  the  genuine  Arabian  breadth  of  brow  and  hollow  of 
the  profile  between  the  eyes  and  nostrils,  which  is  often 
called  the  basin  face ;  nor  are  their  heads  thicker,  espec- 
ially at  the  setting-on  place,  nor  the  necks,  which  are 
v.'ell  arched  and  sufficiently  long,  heavier  or  more  massive 
than  corresponds  well  with  the  general  stoutness  of  their 
frame.  Their  legs  are  particularly  short  from  the  knees 
and  hocks  downward;  nor,  though  heavily  haired,  have 
they. such  shaggy  fetlocks  and  feet  as  the  larger  Normans 
or   Canadians,  while  they  have  the  unyielding,  iron-like 


66  HOW   TO   BREED  A  HORSE. 

sinews  and  feet,  apparently  unconscious  of  disease,  for 
which  the  latter  race  are  famous. 

.  An  English  writer  in  The  British  Quarterly  Journal  of 
Agriculture^  speaking  of  the  general  working-horse  of  Nor- 
mandy, says  :  "  The  horses  of  Normandy  are  a  capital  race 
for  hard  work  and  scanty  fare.  I  have  never  seen  such 
horses  at  the  collar,  under  the  diligence,  the  post-carriage, 
the  cumbrous  and  heavy  voiture  or  cabriolet  for  one  or 
two  horses,  or  the  farm  cart.  They  are  enduring  and  en- 
ergetic beyond  description;  with  their  necks  cut  to  the 
bone,  they  flinch  not ;  they  put  forth  all  their  efforts  at  the 
voice  of  the  brutal  driver  or  at  the  dreaded  sound  of  his 
never-ceasing  whip  ;  they  keep  their  condition  when  other 
horses  would  die  of  neglect  and  hard  treatment.  A  better 
cross  for  some  of  our  horses  cannot  be  imagined  than  those 
of  Normandy,  provided  they  have  not  the  ordinary  failing 
of  two  much  length  from  the  hock  downward,  and  a  heavy 
head."  The  two  points  last  named  are  precisely  those 
which  are  entirely  got  rid  of  in  the  best  style  of  Percbe- 
ron  Normans,  which  are,  as  we  have  stated,  those  of  the 
Normans  most  deeply  and  thoroughly  imbued  with  the 
Arabian,  or,  to  speak  more  correctly.  Barb  blood  of  Anda- 
lusia. It  is  not  easy  to  procure  the  best  and  fastest  stallions 
of  this  breed,  as  they  are  bought  up  by  the  French  Gov- 
ernment for  the  diligence  and  mail  service,  for  which  they 
are  highly  prized,  and  in  which  they  are  constantly  kept 
at  a  pace  varying  from  five  to  nine  miles  an  hour,  over 
roads  and  behind  loads  which  would  speedily  kill  an  Eng- 
lish or  American  horse,  without  loss  of  health  or  condition. 
But  there  is  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  the  choicest  mares 
at  comparatively  low  rates — mares  being  little  valued ybr 
luorh  in  France.  Mr.  Edward  Harris,  of  Moorestown,  N. 
J.,  who  has  been  at  much  pains  to  import  fme  horses  and 
mares  of  this  breed,  asserts  of  his  horse  "DiHgence,"  that 


NOEMANS.  57 

lie  lias  produced  above  four  hundred  foals — that  lie  has 
never  heard  of  one  fetching  less  than  one  hundred  dollars, 
and  many  much  higher  prices,  and  that  he  has  never  heard 
of  his  having  produced  one  worthless  colt,  or  one  that 
is  spavined,  curbed,  ringboned,  or  has  any  of  those  defects 
which  render  utterly  useless  so  large  a  number  of  fine-bred 
colts  of  the  present  day. 

We  cannot  close  this  chapter  without  stating  our  belief 
that,  in  the  present  state  of  American  breeding,  more  good 
can  be  attained,  though  the  process  is  slower,  by  importing 
the  best  Norman  and  Cleveland-bay  mares,  and  breeding 
them  and  their  progeny — gelding  all  the  males — for  two  or 
more  generations  to  select  thorough -bred  horses,  than  by 
importing  stallions  of  these  very  breeds  in  an  endeavor  to 
work  a  regeneration  on  our  weedy  country  mares,  or  to 
raise  valuable  stock  out  of  thorough-bred  mares,  which  is 
hopeless.  "We  fully  believe  that  a  breeding  farm  started 
with  a  dozen  such  mares,  six  of  each  breed,  well  chosen, 
and  bred  year  after  year  to  the  best  and  best  selected  thor- 
ough-breds,  would  in  a  very  few  years  realize  a  large  fortune 
to  the  breeder. 


3* 


CHAPTER  VI. 

HOW  TO    BREED   A  HORSE — MODERN   ARAB   BLOOD. 

ENGLISH  AND  AMERICAN  THOROUGH-BREDS  DERIVED  FROM    ORIENTAL  BLOOD 
— ARE   NOW   SUPERIOR   TO   THE   MODERN   ARABS — NOLAN    ARAB. 

It  is  an  indisputable  fact,  tliat  all  tlie  excellence  of  the  Eng, 
lish  and  American  thorough -bred  horse  is  derived  from 
Oriental  blood  of  the  desert,  and  originates,  it  is  believed, 
in  the  admixture  of  the  various  breeds  of  the  several  coun- 
tries to  which  the  horse  in  its  purest  and  highest  form, 
lias  from  remote  ages  been  indigenous.  These  countries 
are  Arabia,  Syria,  Persia,  Turkistan,  the  Barbary  States, 
Nubia  and  Abyssinia,  all  of  which  have  races  nearly  con- 
nected with  each  other,  but  all  possessing  distinct  charac- 
teristics. There  would  appear,  of  these  races,  to  be  in  the 
English  thorough-bred  horse — with  which  the  American  is 
identical — a  larger  proportion  of  Barb  than  of  pure  Arabi- 
an blood.  The  celebrated  Godolphin  is  generally  considered 
by  the  most  competent  judges  to  have  been  a  Barb.  Fair- 
fax's celebrated  horse  was  a  Barb ;  the  royal  mares  imported 
by  King  Charles  II.,  to  which  nine-terjths  of  our  modern 
thorough-bred  horses  trace,  were  Tunisian  or  Tangier  Barbs. 
The  other  most  famous  progenitors  have  been  Turks,  as 
the  Byerly  Turk,  the  Lyster,  or  straddling  Turk,  the 
D' Arcy  yellow  Turk,  Plaice's  white  Turk,  and  many  others. 
The  most  noted  of  the  pure  Arabians  was  the  Parley  Ara- 


MODEEN  ARAB   BLOOD.  69 

bian.  And  it  is,  perhaps,  the  most  considerable  opinion 
that  the  great  and  unrivalled  excellence  of  the  English 
horse  arises  from  the  fact  that  he  is  the  offspring  of  a  ju- 
dicious cross  of  all  the  best  oriental  races,  and  not  the 
produce  of  a  system  of  close  in -breeding. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark,  however,  that  although  the  flict 
is  universally  admitted  that  the  whole  original  excellence 
of  the  English  thorough  blood  is  attributable  to  the  blood 
of  the  desert,  and  although  no  horse  is  to  be  held  as  thor- 
ough-bred unless  he  can  trace  in  both  lines,  paternal  and 
maternal,  to  that  blood,  and  although  many  horses  of  va- 
rious Eastern  and  African  breeds  have  been  constantl}^  im- 
ported both  into  England  and  America  during  the  last  two 
hundred  years,  no  one  of  them  has  improved  the  breed  of 
race-horses  within  the  last  century,  or  perhaps  two  centu- 
ries. So  low  at  present  does  modern  Arabian  blood  stand 
in  the  estimate  of  English  turfmen,  that  a  horse  begotten 
by  a  Turkish,  Arab,  Barb  or  Persian  stallion,  on  an  Eng- 
lish thorough-bred  mare,  receives  in  the  Goodwood  Cup 
and  other  races  in  which  allowances  are  given,  24  lbs.  from 
all  English  bred  racers ;  and  a  horse  begotten  by  such  a 
stallion  on  a  mare  of  any  one  of  the  same  races,  receives 
an  enormous  advantage  of  48  lbs.  The  fact  that  even  with 
this  enormous  advantage,  no  horse  so  bred  ever  wins  any 
plate  or  race  of  consideration,  shows  that  the  distaste 
to  the  blood  is  not  a  prejudice,  but  is  founded  on  valid 
reasons.  Why  this  should  be  so  is  not  so  clear.  It 
appears,  however,  to  be  a  certain  and  fixed  rule  of  breed- 
ing, that  in  order  to  improve  any  race  the  higher  and  purer 
blood  must  be  on  the  sire's  side,  not  on  the  dam's ;  and 
that  he  must  be  the  superior  animal.  It  is,  we  think,  now 
an  indisputable  and  undeniable  fact,  that  the  English 
thorough-bred  horse  is,  in  all  respects,  but  especially  in 
size,  bone,  power  and  beauty,  a  superior  animal  to  any 


60  HOW   TO   BEEED   A   HOESE. 

of  the  Oriental  races,  and  consequently  that  his  blood 
cannot  be  improved  by  any  further  admixture  of  that 
strain.  Why  this  should  be  so,  cannot  clearly  be  shown ; 
but  it  arises  probably  from  two  causes :  first,  that  as 
the  Mohammedan  race  has  degenerated  in  intellectual 
energy,  in  civilization  and  in  power,  the  breed  of  hor- 
ses used  by  that  race  has  suffered  a  corresponding  de- 
terioration, owing  to  the  want  of  intelligent  breeding, 
of  care,  of  management,  and  to  the  inferiority  of  their 
food,  stabling  and  nurture ;  and,  second,  that  the  English 
and  American  descendants  of  the  same  horses  have, 
by  the  vast  attention  given  to  breeding  them  only 
from  the  best  and  most  choice  parents,  to  their  more  gen- 
erous nutriment,  better  housing  and  clothing,  and  to  the 
enlightened  and  scientific  culture  which  they  have  long  re- 
ceived, been  improved  in  proportion  to  the  deterioration  of 
their  ancestors. 

ISTo  intelligent  sportsman  doubts  that  the  English  or 
American  thorough-bred  horse  can  beat  the  Oriental  horse 
anywhere  and  everywhere,  and  in  all  respects.  InHindos- 
tan  at  the  European  races,  the  whole-bred  and  even  the 
half-bred  English  horses  invariably  beat  the  Indian  Arabs ; 
and  very  recently  an  Irish  mare,  named  Fair  Nell,  dis- 
gracefully beat  all  the  Egyptian  Barbs  of  Ali  Pasha,  who 
had  challenged  the  English  Jockey  Club  to  a  trial  match 
between  English  and  Oriental  horses  for  a  prize  of  £10,000. 
The  Jockey  Club  declined  to  take  up  the  match  collectively, 
because,  as  a  body,  they  do  not  own  race-horses,  and  indi- 
vidually, because  the  risk  of  running  the  best  horses  in  a 
race  of  eight  miles,  which  was  proposed,  over  the  rough 
and  stony  or  sandy  desert,  was  held  rightly  to  be  too 
great  to  justify  the  sending  of  animals  of  great  value  to  a 
distant  and  barbarous  country.  The  English  residents  of 
Alexandria  and  Cairo,  however,  excited  by  national  spirit, 


MODERN    ARAB   BLOOD.  61 

and  provoked  by  the  triumphant  tone  of  the  Oi'ientals, 
resolved  to  test  the  question.  The  Irish  mare  "Fair  Nell" 
was  selected,  which  was  not  a  racer  of  any  note  or  distinc. 
tion.  and  about  which  there  is  now  some  dispute,  whether 
she  is  or  is  not  actually  thorough -bred,  though  she  is  known 
to  be  very  highly  and  verj^  well  bred ;  and  the  result  was, 
that  vastly  to  the  disgust  and  disappointment  of  the  Egyp- 
tians, she  defeated  all  the  best  Arabs  of  the  Pasha's  stud 
with  perfect  ease.  It  has  been  asserted  and  is  constantly 
urged  by  the  favorers  and  defenders  of  Oriental  blood,  that 
no  horses  of  really  superior  qualities  or  decided  excellen- 
cies, as  Arabs  or  Barbs,  have  recently  been  imported;  and 
that  to  this,  and  to  no  natural  or  general  inferiority  of  the 
Arab  or  Oriental  horse,  is  the  want  of  success  in  breeding 
from  him  to  be  attributed ;  and,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
every  one  who  imports  an  Arab  or  a  Barb,  asserts  that  his 
horse,  and  his  only,  is  a  real  and  superior-blooded  animal. 
The  plea  is  not,  however,  a  valid  one ;  for  it  is  not  likely, 
when  a  great  majority  of  the  horses  imported  from  the 
East  into  both  England  and  America  have  been  gifts  of 
Oriental  potentates  to  croAvned  heads  or  presidents,  that  no 
one  of  them  should  have  been  a  valuable  creature. 

It  is  clearly  the  sounder  opinion  that  the  modern  thor- 
ough-bred horse  of  Oriental  origin  is  a  superior  creature  to 
the  modern  Arab ;.  and  consequently  it  is  clearly  unwise 
to  attempt  to  breed  thorough-bred  mares  to  Oriental  stal- 
lions, or  to  breed  any  highly  bred  mares  to  such"  stallions, 
in  preference  to  the  best  thorough-breds.  Still  it  appears 
not  improbable  that  the  general  trotting  stock  and  country 
stock  of  America  might  be  improved  by  crossing  with 
good  Arabian  or  Barb  blood,  where  the  best  thorough-blood, 
combined  with  fine  form  and  power,  is  not  to  be  attained. 
We  are  even  impressed  with,  the  idea,  that  with  some  half- 
blooded  breeds,  such  as  the  Canadians  and  Normans,  both 


62  HOW   TO   BREED   A   HORSE. 

of  which  have  a  large,  although  a  very  remote  cross  of  the 
African  Barbs  of  Andalusian  breed,  a  recurrence  to  the 
original,  undiluted  Barb  or  Arabian  blood  might  be  pref- 
erable even  to  breeding  from  modern  thorough-breds,  on 
the  principle,  before  referred  to,  of  having,  after  many 
years  or  csnturies  of  out-crossing,  recourse  to  the  original 
strain  of  blood,  which  is  often  found  to  "  AzV,"  as  it  is  tech- 
nically termed,  when  it  succeeds  highl}^  It  is  worthy  of 
remark  that  some  distinguished  trotting  horses  trace  to 
Black  Bashaw,  who  was  a  pure  Barb  of  Tripoli,  and  who 
is  said  to  be  a  horse  of  great  beauty  and  power.  The  Ca- 
nadians and  Normans  both  show  far  more  similitude  of 
structure  and  form  to  the  Arab  and  Barb,  than  do  the 
modern  thorough-bred  horses ;  and  that  is  a  strong  reason 
for  believing  that  such  a  cross  might  prove  successful. 

We  should  like  to  hear  of  the  experiment  being  tried, 
and  although  we  should  not  care  to  predict  perfect  success 
we  should  rather  anticipate  a  good  than  an  evil  result ;  we 
would,  however,  on  no  account  put  a  thorough-bred  mare 
to  any  Eastern  horse,  nor  any  very  highly  bred  mare, 
where  a  thorough-bred  stallion  is  within  reach.  Of  course 
the  boniest,  most  compact  and  strongest  Arabs  should  bo 
selected ;  an  Arab  lueed  of  inferior  strain  is  a  very  poor 
creature  for  any  purpose,  and  worst  of  all  from  which  to 
breed.  From  what  we  have  heard  of  the  Nolan  Arab, 
and  from  the  consummate  knowledge  in  horse-flesh  of  his 
gallant  owner,  we  should  augur  as  well  of  him  as  of  any 
recent  importation  from  the  East.  We  should  not  be  sur- 
prised if  in  future  days  material  improvement  in  the 
horse-flesh  of  the  West,  where  there  has  been  until  very 
recently  a  great  want  of  thorough  blood,  may  be  traced, 
hereafter,  to  that  horse. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

PONIES THEIR      DIFFERENT     BREEDS,     CHARACTERISTICS      AND 

UTILITY. 

UNKNOWN  TO  THE  ANCIENTS  — ORIGIN— DIFFERENT  BREEDS  — SHETLAND  AND 
SCOTS  — GALLOWAYS  ANT)  NAER  AG  ANSETTS— MUSTANGS  AND  INDIANS  — 
PROFIT     OF     RAISING  PONEEIS. 

It  is  very  remarkable  tliat  these  hardy,  active,  and,  in  many 
cases,  beautiful  little  animals  appear  to  have  been  either 
absolutely  unknown  to  the  ancients,  or  so  much  neglected 
and  undervalued  by  them,  as  to  have  obtained  not  only  no 
special  description,  but  not  so  much  even  as  a  distinctive 
name  in  the  principal  languages  of  antiquity.  In  the  He- 
brew this  may  be  accounted  for  bj^  the  fact,  that  the  soil 
and  surface  of  Judea  were  so  ill  adapted  for  the  employ- 
ment of  the  horse,  that  its  use  was  superseded  by  that  of 
the  ass ;  which  animal,  with  its  strong,  hard  hoofs  and  in- 
flexible pastern  joints,  was  better  suited  to  the  rocky  nature 
of  the  ground  and  the  hill  fastnesses  of  Idumea  than  the 
nobler  horse. 

This  reason,  however,  in  no  respect  explains  why  the 
Greeks  and  Romans,  both  of  whom  most  sedulously  culti- 
vated the  horse,  and  who,  by  their  writings  still  extant  on 
the  subject  of  equestrianism,  Avere  well  informed  on  all 
matters  connected  with  that  animal,  and  were  good  judges 
of  its  points  according  to  the  received  modern  ideas,  should 
have  no  definite  word,  if  indeed  any  word  at  all,  signifying 
a  pony.  In  both  tongues  there  is  a  diminutive  of  the  word 
horse;  in  Latin,  from   equus^  equuleiis ;   as  also,  from  7?2an- 

[63] 


64  PONIES — THEIR   DIFFERENT  BREEDS. 

nus^  a  nag  or  pad,  mannulus  ;  and  in  Greek,  from  hippos^ 
hipparion  ;  and  to  all  these  diminutives,  the  primary  mean- 
ing of  which  is,  a  foal  or  young,  and,  because  young, 
small  horse,  the  lexicographers  have  attached  the  inter- 
pretation pony.  It  is,  at  least,  doubtful  whether  the  dimin- 
utives mentioned  ever  bore  that  sense ;  the  immature 
young  of  the  horse  and  the  adult  pony,  which,  properly 
speaking,  cannot  even  be  termed  a  little  or  small  horse, 
since  it  is  not  in  its  nature  ever  to  become,  or  to  produce 
by  generation,  a  large  horse,  but  to  produce  and  repro- 
duce itself,  like  to  like,  as  is  the  case  with  any  other  dis- 
tinct species  of  the  same  family.  In  corroboration  of  which 
view,  it  is  well  to  remark,  that  there  are  several  races  or 
varieties  of  ponies,  peculiar  to  various  parts  of  Europe, 
Asia,  and,  more  recently,  of  America,  in  all  respects  as 
distinct  and  peculiar  as  any  of  the  families  of  the  horse, 
such  as  the  ISTorman,  Flemish,  Cleveland  Bay,  Suffolk 
Punch  or  thorough-bred,  and  which  will  no  more,  when 
bred  like  dam  to  like  sire,  produce  a  young  one  of  any 
other  family,  still  less  of  the  full-sized  horse,  than  will  any 
of  the  horse  families  named  above.  The  pony,  therefore, 
is  by  no  means  to  be  regarded  as  a  dwarf  horse — since  full- 
sized  and  healthy  horses  never  produce  ponies,  although 
they  may  produce  rickety,  small-sized  and  defective  colts 
or  fillies;  nor  do  ponies,  as  .above  stated,  ever  produce 
full  sized  horses,  which  Avould  occasionally  be  the  case,  es- 
pecially in  the  former  instance,  were  they  accidental  mon- 
strosities, and  not  a  distinct  race. 

In  what  manner  the  pony  was  originally  produced,  in 
its  primary  form,  or  subsequently  established  in  all,  or  anj^ 
one,  of  its  self-reproducing  varieties,  is  impossible  to  de- 
cide, and  useless  to  speculate.  It  is  evident  and  certain 
that  once,  at  a  vastly  remote  period,  they  all  arose  from  a 
single  type  of  each  species ;  but  that,  at  periods  still  exceed- 


.    ORIGIN   OF   OF   PONIES.  65 

inglj  remote,  though  comparatively  recent,  divei-^  varieties 
have  branched  off  accidentally  from  the  primary  species, 
which,  by  accident  or  design,  by  circumstances  of  climate, 
or  by  care  and  cultivation,  have  been  first  rendered  per- 
manent. 

It  is  remarkable  and  significant  that  all  the  most  dis- 
tinct breeds  of  ponies,  with  which  we  are  acquainted,  are 
still  to  be  found,  and  appear  to  have  been  originated  in 
extreme  latitudes  either  of  heat  or  cold ;  latitudes  to  which 
the  horse  does  not  seem  to  be  indigenous  ;  to  which  he  has, 
according  to  all  natural  probabilities,  been  imported  ;  and 
in  which  one  would  naturally  expect  him  to  degenerate,  at 
least  in  size.  It  follows,  if  this  view  be  correct,  that  at 
the  time  when  the  Greek  and  Latin  languages  prevailed, 
ponies,  which  were  then  possibly  in  progress  of  forma- 
tion in  regions  beyond  the  ken  of  early  civilization,  in 
the  lands  which  are  laid  down  on  the  maps  of  "  the  world 
known  to  the  ancients"  as  countries  uninhabitable  on 
account  of  heat  or  of  cold,  and  in  which  distinct  ponies  do 
now  exist,  had  not  yet  been  brought  at  all  to  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  civilized  world,  or,  if  at  all,  so  rarely  as  to  be 
regarded  as  accidental  dwarfs  and  monstrosities,  rather 
than  a  distinct  breed. 

Now,  of  European  ponies,  the  most  clearly  distinct  types 
are  those  of  the  Shetland  Isles,  of  Scotland,  in  the  northern 
parts  of  Iceland,  and  of  Sweden.  There  are  also  ponies,  some- 
what similar  to  those  of  Scotland,  in  Wales,  and  others  in  the 
Kew  Forest,  on  the  south-western  coast  of  England,  which 
seem  referable  to  a  cross  of  the  same  ponj^  with  some  horse  of 
higher  blood.  On  the  whole,  it  seems  likely  that  the  Shet- 
land, Scottish,  Welch,  Swedish  and  Icelandic  pony  is  one 
and  the  same  animal,  as  to  its  origin  or  original  mode  of 
production,  slightly  influenced  perhaps  by  the  original 
type  of  the  horse  of  which  it  is  a  pattern,  diminished  in 


06  PONIES— THEIR   DIFFERENT  BREEDS. 

size,  but.  undeteriorated  in  spirit  by  years,  nay,  centuries, 
of  habituation  to  cold  and  scanty  fare.  In  Spain  there 
existed  from  an  early  date  in  the  middle  ages  a  peculiar 
breed  of  very  small,  high-bred  horses,  scarcely  to  be  called 
ponies,  known  as  the  Andalusian  jennet,  the  descendants 
of  which  are  said  still  to  exist  in  the  Connemara  horse, 
peculiar  to  Galway  in  Ireland,  and  to  have  existed  in  the 
Scottish  Galloway,  on  the  shores  of  the  Sol  way  Frith,  in 
the  south  of  Scotland,  and  probably  in  the  Narragansett 
pacer,  both  of  which  families  arc  now  unfortunately  ex- 
tinct. These  Spanish  ponies,  or  ponies  of  Spanish  descent, 
are  referable  to  another  and  entirely  different  mode  of  pro- 
duction, by  breeding,  and  not  by  deterioration  in  size,  or 
dwarfing.  In  Asiatic  and  European  Russia,  again,  the 
Cossack  horse,  which  is  little  more  than  a  large  pony 
Avith  good  Turkish  blood,  is  evidently  the  result  of  modi- 
lied  dwarfing  by  hardship  and  severity  of  climate.  It  is 
remarkable,  however,  of  all  these  European  and  Asiatic 
ponies,  as  also  of  the  American  varieties,  of  which  we  shall 
speak  hereafter,  that,  unlike  most  animals  which  have  de- 
generated in  size,  owing  to  severity  of  climate  and  scanty 
fare,  they  have  lost  nothing  of  their  spirit,  and — what  is 
yet  more  singular — have  gained  rather  than  lost  in  their 
capability  to  endure  toil,  hardship,  and  spare  diet,  in  which 
particulars  the  tiny  Shetlander  and  the  rugged  Cossack  will 
probably  surpass  any  other  horses  in  existence. 

Of  the  Southern  Asiatic  races  comparatively  little  is 
known ;  but  it  is  certain  that  in  Ceylon  there  is  a  pigmy 
race  of  ponies  not  exceeding  twenty-seven  inches  in  height. 
A  little  niare  was  exhibited  in  London,  in  1765,  brought 
from  tbf.  East  Indies,  only  twenty -seven  inches  in  height, 
well-fo;:7ned,  and  between  four  and  five  years  old. 

In  P<'/"jia  and  among  the  mountains  of  Afghanistan,  there 
is  foun^J  a   useful   breed  of  large  ponies,  called   Yauboos, 


SHETLAXDS   AND   SCOTS.  67 

which  is  probably  merely  the  Turkoman  horse  stunted  by 
the  hard  fare  and  severe  winters  of  the  hill  country.  And 
lastly,  in  America  we  have  the  Indian  Pony  of  the  nortl], 
of  the  Canadian  type,  the  Mustang  of  the  south-west, 
and  in  South  America  a  very  singular-looking  breed  of 
horses,  of  very  diminutive  size,  which  is  found  in  the 
mountains  of  Venezuela. 

On  these  various  families  of  ponies  we  shall  touch  more 
at  length,  and  on  the  qualities  for  which  they  are  famous 
and  worthy  to  be  more  generally  cultivated  in  our  own 
country. 

We  admit  that  we  wish  we  were  more  a  race  of  horsemen, 
and  less  a  race  of  sulky,  buggy  or  wagon-drivers.  The 
saddle  is  the  true  use  of  the  horse ;  and  riding  is  the  man- 
liest, freest,  boldest  of  exercises.  We  can  hardly  fancy  a 
good  rider  to  be  a  fool  or  a  fribble  ;  a  coward  he  cannot 
be  by  any  possibility.  It  is  for  this  reason  that  we  would 
gladly  see  ponies  more  largely  introduced,  and  even  bred 
in  this  country ;  nor  would  it  be  amiss  to  introduce  premi- 
ums for  the  encouragement  of  this  breed  at  agricultural 
fairs. 

SHETLAXDS     AND     SCOTS. 

Unquestionably,  the  most  remarkable  of  all  the  Euro- 
pean pony  races,  and  the  best  adapted  for  one  of  the 
principal  uses  to  which  ponies  are  applicable,  are,  the  little 
Shetlanders,  which  are  natives  of  all  the  northern  Scottish 
isles,  but  which  are  found  of  the  smallest  size  and  of  the 
most  perfect  form  in  the  extreme  northern  isles  of  Yell 
and  Unst.  None  of  the  Shetlanders  exceed  in  the  average 
nine  or  ten  hands — that  is  to  say,  from  three  feet  to  three 
feet  four  inches  in  height ;  and  none  are  considered  truly 
bred  which  exceed  eleven  hands,  or  three  feet  eight  inches. 
Many  are  found  which  do  not  exceed  thirty  or  thirty-two 
inches,  and   which  are  consequently  inferior  in  size  to 


68  PONIES — ^THEIK  DIFFERENT  BREEDS. 

some  of  tlie  largest  clogs  of  the  Newfoundland  and  Lab- 
rador, or  Great  St.  Bernard  breeds.  Their  characteristic 
form  is  a  round,  closely  ribbed-up  barrel ;  a  well-laid,  slop- 
ing shoulder,  but  thick  rather  than  line,  and  with  little 
elevation  of  the  withers ;  a  short,  thick  neck,  covered  with 
redundant  masses  of  coarse  mane,  scarcely  inferior  to  that 
of  the  lion ;  a  well-sh?.ped,  lean  and  bony  head,  wide  in 
the  brow  and  not  seldom  showing  something  of  the  char- 
acteristic basin-face  of  the  Arab.  The  ears  are  unusu- 
ally small,  erect  and  well-placed ;  the  eyes  large,  clear 
and  intelligent.  Their  loins  are  superb  so  that  their 
breadth  bears  no  small  proportion  to  the  entire  height  of 
the  animal.  Sway  backs  and  flat  sides  are  unknown  to 
the  race.  Their  quarters  are  scarcely  large  in  proportion 
to  their  other  musculai  developments,  but  their  legs  and  feet, 
which  are  not  so  densely  matted  with  hair  as  would  be  ex- 
pected from  their  flowing  tails  and  abundant  manes,  are, 
like  those  of  the  Canadians  and  Normans,  to  which  they 
have  many  strong  points  of  similitude,  literally  made  of  iron. 
Splints,  curbs,  spavins,  winclgalks,  thorough-pins,  ringbones 
and  navicular  disease  seem  to  be  things  utterly  foreign  to 
the  Shetlander.  Out  of  many  hundreds  which  we  have 
seen, — sometimes  in  droves  of  fifty  or  sixty  at  a  time  trav- 
elling down  from  their  native  moors  and  mountains,  the  ■ 
raggedest,  rustiest,  most  comical-looking  little  quadrupeds 
eye  ever  dwelt  upon,  driven  by  a  gigantic  six-foot  High- 
lander, perched  on  the  back  perhaps  of  the  smallest  of  the 
number, — we  never  saw  a  lame  Shetlander.  l^heir  hardi- 
hood and  spirit  is  wonderful.  In  their  native  isles  they 
run  wild  on  the  hills  as  the  ragged,  black -faced  sheep,  Axith 
which  they  keep  company,  never  herded,  sheltered  nor  fed, 
but  picking  up  a  hardy  livelihood  from  the  tender  shdots 
of  the  heather,  and  the  coarse,  innutritions  grass  which 
grows  among  it.     In   very   severe   winters,  when  in   that 


SHETLAXDS   AND   SOOTS.  69 

high  northern  latitude  the  mountains  are  buried  deep  in 
frozen  snow,  they  resort  to  the  sea  beaches  and  feed  on  the 
kelp  and  sea  ware.  Even  when  taken  into  domestication 
their  fare  is  but  little  improved.  Oats  is  a  luxury  unknov>m, 
and  a  few  bundles  of  wild  meadow  hay  or  barley  straw 
furnish  a  dainty  banquet  to  the  wee  Shetlander.  His 
speed  is  of  course  not  great,  but  he  will  go  along  at  a  sort 
of  waddling  run  under  a  weight  which  it  would  bother 
some  horses  to  carry, — that  is  to  say,  from  150  to  200 
pounds, — at  the  rate  of  four  or  five  miles  an  hour ;  and 
will  accomplish  his  fifty  miles  betwesn  sunrise  amd  sunset 
with  a  gTeat  hulking  Highlander  on  his  back,  who  seems 
fitter  to  carry  the  pony  than  the  pony  to  carry  him. 

For  little  boys  and  girls  learning  to  ride,  the  Shetlander 
is  perfection ;  for  though  he  has  sometimes  a  will  of  his 
own,  and  has  always  a  very  sufficient  share  of  spirit,  which 
sometimes  leads  him  to  play  queer,  grotesque  tricks  and  to 
make  uncouth  gambols  more  resembling  those  of  a  big 
dog  than  of  a  small  horse,  he  is  very  docile,  intelligent,  af- 
fectionate and  gentle.  He  readily  becomes  extremely 
fond  of  his  small  rider  ;  and  if,  as  will  sometimes  happen, 
he  kicks  him  over  his  head  for  fun,  he  will  generally  stop 
by  his  side  until  he  gets  up  again,  and  will  suffer  himself  to 
be  remounted  without  opposition ;  and  then,  which  is  a 
great  consideration,  it  is  not  far  to  fall  from  his  back  to 
the  ground.  The  colors  of  the  Shetlanders  are  generally 
black,  dark  brown,  and  a  sort  of  rust-colored  sorrel. 
Whites  and  greys  are  exceedingly  rare,  and  blacks  are 
considered  the  best  of  the  race.  There  is  a  race  of  very 
small  ponies,  analagous  to  the  Shetlanders,  in  Terie,  one  of 
the  Hebrides  or  Western  isles,  belonging  to  the  Duke  of 
Argyle. 

Next  in  size  to  the  Shetlanders  is  a  small  white  race  of 
ponies,  generally  supposed  to  be  of  Hanoverian  origin, 


70  PO]SriES — THEIR   DIFFERENT  BREEDS. 

which  were  some  years  ago  much  the  fashion  for  ladies' 
pony  carriages.  They  ran  from  ten  to  eleven  hands  high 
with  softer  and  finer  coats  than  the  Shetlanders,  and  with 
manes  and  tails  which,  though  full  and  flowing,  were  not 
so  abundant  and  massive  as  those  of  their  little  congeners. 
They  were  not  unfrequently  albinoes,  having  blood-red  pu- 
pils to  their  eyes,  which  tends  to  confirm  suspicion  of  their 
Hanoverian  origin.  Persons  who  remember  the  drive  in 
Hj^de  Park  and  the  corner  of  Eotten  Kow  in  the  days 
when  George  lY.  was  King,  will  not  easily  forget  the 
beautiful  turn-out  of  the  beautiful  Lady  Foley,  a  four-in- 
hand  of  snow-white  ponies,  scarcely  bigger  than  the  rats 
which  furnished  Cinderella's  carriage-horses,  and  two  little 
ten-year-old  outriders  mounted  on  two  others  of  the  same 
stamp,  in  full  uniform  of  top  boots,  leather  breeches,  and 
miniature  hunting  whips.  These  pretty  Hanoverians  are, 
however,  only  pretty  playthings  for  pretty  women,  for 
they  have  none  of  the  stamina  of  the  Shetlanders.  Shetland 
ponies  of  the  true  breed  are  not  often  imported  into  Amer- 
ica, although  of  late  years  a  good  many  of  the  larger 
Scottish  and  Welsh  ponies  are  being  introduced,  and,  if 
black,  are  often  erroneously  called  Shetlanders.  At  the 
State  Fair  of  New  Jersey,  held  at  Newark,  in  1857,  w^e 
noticed  a  very  neat,  very  small  dark  grey  pony,  not  above 
ten  hands  high,  but  finer  coated  and  less  shaggy  than  the 
ordinary  run  of  Shetlanders.  He  was  in  the  care  of  a  very 
large,  very  green  Hibernian,  between  whom  and  ourselves 
passed  the  following  colloquy. 

"  That's  a  very  nice  pony,  my  man  ;  who  owns  him  ?'* 
"  He  is.  Gin'ral  Moore,  of  Belleville."  "  Is  he  a  native 
pony,  or  imported  ?"  "  He  ts."  "  He  is  what  f '  "  He  is 
thcttr  "Yes,  I  see — where  did  he  come  from?"  "He 
come  from  New  York ;  the  Gin'ral  got  him  there  !"  "Ah, 
I  understand.     But  did  he  come  from  across  the  sea,  or 


SHETLANDS  AND   SCOTS.  71 

how  ?"  "  Across  the  say  !  Is  it  foolin'  me  yez  is?  Arrali, 
don't  I  tell  yiz  tie  cum  from  New  York,  and  then  ye  ax 
me,  is  New  York  across  the  say?  Be  off  wid  yiz  I" 
Before  we  could  obey  our  irate  friend's  mandate,  how- 
ever, a  long,  slab-sided,  upland  Jersey  man  came  up,  and, 
after  eyeing  the  pony  for  some  time,  broke  out  as  fol- 
lows: "Waal,  now,  that's  about  the  littlest  kind  of 
horse  I  ever  did  see.  What  on  airth's  the  use  of  that 
critter,  I'd  like  to  know?  I  reckon  you  keeps  him  on 
account  of  the  milk."  Meaning  evidently  for  the  purpose 
of  driving  a  churning  machine.  If  our  Hibernian  was 
wroth  before,  he  was  now  furious.  "  Milk !"  shouted  lie. 
"  Is  it  milk  yiz  said ?  He's  a  horse — can't  you  see?  lie 
niver  gave  no  milk,  not  a  drop  on't."  "  Nary  !"  replied 
our  Jersey  compatriot,  and  we  dissolved  in  laughter.  We 
afterward  learned  that  the  little  animal  is  a  pure  Shet- 
lander;  and  we  may  add,  that  he  is  the  most  beautiful 
specimen  of  the  breed,  though  by  no  means  the  most  char- 
acteristic, we  have  ever  seen.  He  had,  though  very 
small,  more  of  the  horse  than  of  the  pony  in  his  shape 
and  movement ;  was  slenderer  and  finer  limbed,  and  had 
not  the  heavy  tail  and  shaggy  mane. 

The  larger  Scottish  pony  is  little  more  than  an  enlarged 
pattern  of  the  Shetlander.  He 'preserves  the  general  form, 
the  close  barrel,  strong  loins  and  general  stocky  air  and 
build,  but  he  has  a  somewhat  longer  neck,  higher  withers, 
and  finer  hair  in  the  mane  and  tail.  His  ordinary  height 
is  from  eleven  to  thirteen  hands,  above  the  latter  of  which 
standards  the  animal  is  rated  in  England  as  a  horse,  no 
longer  as  a  pony.  These  larger  Scottish  ponies,  which 
are  usually  the  second  step  by  which  a  boy  ascends  toward 
the  top  of  the  noble  art  of  horsemanship,  have  often  a  fair 
turn  of  speed,  can  leap  cleverly  enough,  and  have  all  the 


72  PONIES—THEIR   DIFFERENT   BREEDS. 

endurance,  with  greater  strength,  greater  quickness,  and 
more  showy  action,  of  their  smaller  countrymen. 

GALLOWAYS    AND    NARKAGANSETTS. 

After  tTie  various  descriptions  of  ponies  whicli  have  been 
enumerated  and  described,  there  is  none  more  worthy  of 
notice  than  the  peculiar  race  of  small  horses,  rather  than 
what  can  be  exactly  classed  as  ponies,  which  formerly 
existed,  nearly  identical  in  all  their  characteristics,  in  two 
small  districts  of  Great  Britain,  wholly  unconnected  the  one 
with  the  other,  yet,  singularly  enough,  with  names  so  similar 
as  to  justify  a  first  idea  of  their  being  in  some  sort  similar 
or  identical.  .  The  one  of  these  is  the  small  district  of  Gallo- 
way^ on  the  shores  of  the  Sol  way  Frith,  in  the  south-west 
of  Scotland.  The  otlier  is  a  portion  of  the  county  of 
Oalway,  in  the  west  of  Ireland.  The  whole  width  of  the 
Irish  Sea  and  of  the  island  itself  lies  between  the  two 
districts,  which  have,  in  spite  of  their  similar  names,  no 
connection,  whether  of  origin  or  of  population;  yet, 
strange  to  say,  in  each  locality  there  is,  or  rather  was — 
for  they  have  recently  become  nearly  extinct — a  peculiar 
breed  of  horses  Avholly  different  and  distinct  from  the 
native  stock,  whether  of  Scotland  or  Ireland,  yet  so 
similar  in  all  their  characteristics  and  qualifications  that 
their  identity  of  origin  cannot  be  doubted.  These  are  the 
animals  which,  from  the  Scottish  district  on  the  border  of 
the  counties  of  Wigton  and  Kirkcudbright,  received  the 
name  of  Galloways,  a  word  which  afterward  came  to  be 
misapplied  to  small  horses  of  all  descriptions. 

In  that  district  they  were  long  famous  for  their  endur- 
ance, speed,  docility  and  easiness  of  gait,  as  well  as  for 
their  high  and  courageous  spirit;  and  so  long  as  the 
country  roads  and,  indeed,  the  great  national  thorough- 
fares of  Endand  and  Scotland  were  such  as  to  render  the 

o 


GALLOWAYS   AND   KAERAGANSETTS.  73 

saddle  tlie  only  rapid  and  agreeable,  and  by  far  the  most 
certain  mode  of  travel,  these  beautiful  and  excellent  little 
animals  were  preserved  in  their  purity,  were  carefully 
propagated  from  the  best  mares  and  stallions  of  their  own 
race,  and  commanded  large  prices  for  the  use  both  of 
gentlemen  and  ladies,  as  road  hackneys.  Their  power  of 
carrying  weight,  and  of  travelling  at  an  easy  and  moderate 
gait  for  an  almost  unlimited  number  of  consecutive  hours, 
was  really  wonderful.  But  when  the  progress  of  improve- 
ment covered  England  and  her  provinces  with  a  network 
of  excellent  roads,  it  became  unnecessary  to  keep  up  a 
particular  breed  of  horses,  too  small  for  agricultural  use,  too 
light  for  draft,  without  sufficient  speed  or  length  for  hunters, 
and  from  which  no  class  of  horses  for  general  utility  could  be 
raised  by  any  sj^stem  of  cross-breeding.  Consequently  the 
beautiful  and  enduring  little  Galloways  fell  gradually  into 
disrepute,and  were  either  not  bred  at  all,  or  merely  bred  for 
fancy  purposes.  In  Galloway,  the  breed  is  now  entirely 
extinct ;  although  of  late  years  attempts  have  been  made  to 
produce  its  counterpart  by  breeding  large-sized  pony  mares 
of  the  Scotch  and  Shetland  breeds  to  small,  low-built,  close- 
coupled,  bony,  thorough-bred  stallions,  for  the  purpose  of 
becoming  children's  riding  horses  and  boys'  hunters. 

In  Galway,  the  existence  of  the  animal  was  not  known 
until  a  comparatively  recent  period  ;  and,  as  in  that  wild, 
remote  and  semi-civilized  district,  the  same  reasons  still 
exist  which  original^  caused  them  to  be  prized  so  highly 
in  the  sister  kingdom, — the  want  of  good  roads  for  wheeled 
carriages, — they  are  believed  still  to  exist  there  in  their 
purity ;  although  the  rudeness  of  the  district  an  the  extremed 
poverty  of  the  farmers  have  led  to  their  deterioration. 
It  is  not,  however,  to  be  doubted,  that  if  an  intelligent 
system  were  adopted,  the  Galway-Galloways  might  be 
bred  up  to  their  original  high  standard. 
4 


/4  PONIES— THEIR  DIFFERENT  BREEDS. 

It  is  claimed  that  thej  are  descended  from  horses  cast 
on  the  shores  of  the  two  districts  from  the  ship-wrecked 
galleons  of  the  Spanish  Armada.  In  both  districts  it  is  a 
matter  of  historical  notoriety  that  Spanish  war-ships  were 
wrecked  at  the  period  in  question ;  and  as  they  doubtless 
had  cavalry  on  board,  there  is  no  cause  for  disputing  the 
tradition,  the  rather  that  the  Galloways  of  both  districts 
have  many  of  the  peculiarities  of  the  Andalusian  jennets, 
and  show  a  large  tincture  of  Moorish  blood. 

"The  pure  Galloway,"  says  Youatt,  "was  said  to  be 
nearly  fourteen  hands  high  and  sometimes  more,  of  a 
bright  bay  or  brown,  with  black  legs,  and  small  head  and 
neck,  and  peculiarly  deep,  clean  legs.  Its  qualities  were 
speed,  stoutness  and  sure-footedness  over  a  very  rugged 
and  mountainous  country."  From  other  authorities,  better 
acquainted,  perhaps,  than  Mr.  Youatt,  with  the  race  in 
question,  we  find  that  they  more  often  exceeded  fourteen 
hands  by  half  a  hand  than  fell  short  of  that  height ;  that 
they  were  quite  as  often  or  oftener  of  a  rich,  deep,  glossy 
chestnut — a  peculiarly  Andalusian  color — as  either  brown 
or  bay ;  that  they  were  conspicuous  for  their  breadth  be- 
tween the  eyes,  for  their  basin  faces,  for  their  thin,  silky 
manes  and  tails,  and  for  the  total  absence  of  hair  on  their 
fetlocks.  They  were,  also,  many  of  them,  natural  pacers, 
or  amblers,  as  that  pace  is  called  in  England,  and  were  all 
of  them  easily  trained  to  take  and  hold  it  for  many  hours 
together.  A  distingui'shed  Scottish  divine  thus  describes 
the  animal  in  question  :  "  There  was  once  a  breed  of  small, 
elegant  horses  in  Scotland,  similar  to  those  of  Iceland  and 
Sweden,  which  were  known  by  the  name  of  Galloways, 
the  best  of  which  sometimes  reached  the  height  of  fourteen 
hands  and  a  half  One  of  this  description  I  possessed,  it 
having  been  bought  for  my  use  when  I  was  a  boy.  In 
point  of  elegance  of  shape  it  was  a  perfect  picture,  and  in 


NARRAGANSET  PACER.  '75 

disposition  it  was  gentle  and  compliant.  It  moved  almost 
to  a  wish,  and  never  tired.  I  rode  this  little  creature  for 
25  years,  and  twice  in  that  time  I  rode  150  miles  at  a 
stretch  without  stopping,  except  to  bait,  and  that  not  for 
above  an  hour  at  a  time.  It  came  in  at  the  last  stage  with 
as  much  ease  and  alacrity  as  it  travelled  the  first.  I  could 
have  undertaken  to  have  performed  on  this  beast,  when  it 
was  in  its  prime,  60  miles  a  day  for  a  twelvemonth  run- 
ning, without  any  extraordinary  exertion." 

It  is  a  matter  of  real  regret  that  so  excellent  a  breed  of 
creatures  should  have  been  allowed  to  become  extinct  in 
both  hemispheres,  if  it  be  not  preserved  by  chance  in  the 
degenerated  race  of  Gal  way.  AYe  say  in  both  hemispheres 
— for  although  it  is  not  generally  known,  it  is  yet  certain 
that  we  once  possessed  in  the  far-famed  Narraganset  pacer 
the  actual  Spanish  pacing  jennet  of  Andalusia,  and  the 
exact  counterpart  of  the  Scottish  Galloway.  The  color, 
pace,  docility,  size,  endurance,  all  the  characteristics, 
indeed,  ^v•ould  almost  establish  this  fact  without  direct 
evidence.  But  direct  evidence  is  not  wanting,  as  will  be 
discovered  by  reference  to  "Updyke's  History  of  the  Epis- 
copal Church  in  ISTarraganset,"  where  will  be  found  a  cu- 
lious  letter  from  a  Mr.  Hazard,  who  was  intimately  acquaint- 
ed with  the  race  while  it  was  at  its  highest  perfection  and 
held  at  its  highest  value ;  and  who  distinctly  states  it  to  be 
of  Spanish  origin,  the  ancestors  having  been  brought  from 
Cuba,  where  the  breed  was  in  such  demand  for  ladies' 
saddle-horses  that  he  attributes  the  extinction  of  the  race 
in  Khode  Island  to  the  exportation  of  them  in  undue 
numbers  to  the  Havana.  We  suspect,  however,  that  the 
cause  was  rather  the  same  which  led  to  its  extirpation  in 
England — the  improvement  of  roads  and  the  introduction 
of  wheeled  carriages  as  the  means  of  private  conveyance, 
which  rendered  a  larger  and  stronger  horse  necessary,  and 


76  Poxii;5— THEIR  different  breeds. 

for  which  trotters  are  preferable  to  jDacers.  To  whatever 
cause  it  is  due,  the  decline  of  the  breed  must  be  regretted. 
It  is  doubtful  whether  it  can  ever  be  renewed  or  replaced, 
and  it  was  undoubtedly  a  pure  race  of  rare  powers. 

THE  MEXICAN   MUSTANG  AND   NORTHERN    INDIAN    PONY. 

We  have  treated  of  the  principal  races  of  ponies  peculiar 
to  the  Old  World,  and  to  those  more  particularly  which 
are  remarkable  for  good  qualities  and  are  worthy  of  culti- 
vation. We  now  come  to  the  ponies  of  our  own  continent. 
For  although  it  is  not  to  be  denied  that  the  horses  of 
America  are  all,  in  the  beginning,  traceable  to  a  foreign 
origin,  and  although  avc  have  no  distinct  breed  or  family 
of  the  full-sized  horse  which  is  not  distinctly  to  be  traced 
back  to  some  one  particular  European  family,  of  which  it 
still  preserves  the  principal  characteristics,  we  have  cer- 
tainly two  families  of  ponies  which,  thoughthey  are  pi'ob- 
ably  to  be  discovered  originally  in  two  European  breeds 
of  larger  size,  differ  from  the  original  type  so  widely  that 
they  may  now  be  set  down  as  distinct.  These  are  the 
Mexican  Mustang  and  the  Indian  pony  of  the  north^ 
which  are  in  themselves  distinct  breeds,  although  there  is 
undoubtedly  growing  up  a  hybrid  race  between  the  two. 

The  Mustang  of  the  ^fexican  and  Texan  prairies,  where 
it  has  spread  over  much  of  the  western  country  beyond 
the  Mississippi,  is  clearly  of  Spanish  origin,  and  both  has 
and  shows  a  considerable  share  of  ^loorish  blood.  It  is 
under-sized,  very  slight-limbed,  and  often  ill  and  dispro- 
portionately made,  with  the  neck  or  the  back,  or  both,  far 
too  long  for  either  symmetry  or  strength.  Their  hoofs  are 
often  very  badly  formed,  and  their  posteriors  are  generally 
weak,  long  and  slender.  On  the  other  hand,  they  show 
blood  in  the  shape  and  setting  on  of  their  lean,  long  heads, 


MUSTAXGS.  77 

in  tlieir  wide  nostrils  and  fine  manes  and  tails.  They  have 
considerable  spirit  and  fire,  and  are  sometimes  vicious  at 
first,  but  when  resolutely  combated  lack  persevering  pluck, 
and  easily  give  up  the  contest.  It  is  said,  also,  that 
although  when  first  mounted  they  display  much  life,  vigor 
and  showy  action,  they  lack  hardihood  and  endurance.  It 
is  well  proved  that,  in  a  wijd  state,  they  can  be  ridden 
down  and  captured  without  much  difficulty  by  good 
trained  domestic  horses,  even  carrying  the  weight  of  a 
rider,  whenever  they  can  be  approached  sufficiently  close 
to  allow  anything  approaching  to  an  equality  in  the  start. 
They  are,  however,  the  cavalry  horses  of  the  Camanche 
and  Apache  Indians ;  and  although  they  are  confessedly 
unable  to  stand  the  shock  of  a  charge  of  American  troop- 
horses,  it  does  not  appear  to  us,  from  the  facility  with 
which  they  evade  or  frustrate  the  pursuit  of  our  mounted 
regiments,  and  the  extreme  difficulty  of  bringing  them  to 
engagement,  that  they  can  be  so  deficient  in  endurance  or 
power  of  sustaining  fatigue  as  they  have  been  represented. 
It  is  clear,  however,  that  they  are  in  all  respects  so  far 
inferior  to  the  American  horse  that  they  can  never  sustain 
any  comparison  with  him.  Nothing  is  to  be  gained  by 
crossing  them  with  our  horses,  and  the  only  utility  which 
they  can  ever  subserve  is  as  the  riding  animals  of  children 
or  very  young  ladies.  They  do  not  generally  run,  so  far 
as  we  can  judge  from  the  specimens  which  we  have  seen 
in  the  Northern  States,  to  above  18|  or  14  hands ;  and, 
though  some  of  them  are  certainly  pretty,  graceful,  elegant 
creatures,  and  some  of  them  easy  and  light-going  natural 
pacers,  they  have  not  impressed  us  favorably,  as  compared 
either  with  any  of  the  imported  European  ponies,  or  with 
that  of  the  northern  Indians.  It  is,  however,  not  only 
probable,  but  nearly  certain,  that  we  have  not  seen  the 
best  specimens  of  the  breed,  as  they  are  not  in  very  high 


78  PONIES — THEIR   DIFFERENT   BREEDS. 

repute  or  in  general  use  in  the  Korth.  They  are  of  all 
colors, — browns,  bays,  blacks,  sorrels,  duns,  and,  by  no 
means  unfrequently,  piebalds,  which  is  an  extremely  ple- 
beian color,  and  which  most  certainly  implies  a  deteriora- 
tion of  blood  from  the  Oriental  or  desert  tj^pe.  AVhen  it 
is  seen  in  domestication,  it  is  held  to  imply  a  cross  of  the 
Hanoverian  or  Pomeranian  horse,  both  of  which  run  to 
fancy  colors,  spots  and  piebalds. 

The  pony  of  the  northern  Indians,  prevailing  from  Can- 
ada downward,  west  of  the  lakes,  over  the  Upper  Missis- 
sippi country,  is  a  totally  distinct  animal.  He  rarely  exceeds 
thirteen,  never  fourteen  hands,  and  is  a  veritable  pony — 
short-barreled,  round-ribbed,  strong-limbed,  short  and  thick- 
necked,  with  legs,  fetlocks  and  feet  literally  of  iron.  His 
legs  are  covered  with  thick  hair,  his  mane  is  almost  as 
voluminous  as  that  of  a  lion,  often  falling  on  both  sides  of 
his  neck,  while  the  forelock  covers  his  eyes,  and  his  tail  is 
heavy  and  waved  like  that  of  the  Canadian.  In  one  word, 
he  is  the  pare  Norman  war-horse  of  the  largest,  oldest, 
coarsest  and  most  massive  type,  razeed  into  a  pony.  We 
are  not  aware  that  there  is  any  history  or  tradition  as  to  his 
origin,  but  we  cannot  doubt  that  he  is  nothing  more  or 
less  than  the  original  Norman  horse  of  the  Canadas,  de- 
generated in  size  but  in  no  other  respect,  by  ages  of  neglect, 
misuse,  scanty  sustenance,  want  of  shelter,  and  cruel  usage, 
generation  after  generation.  We  doubt  not  they  could  be 
bred  up  in  size  by  judicious  treatment.  As  it  is,  however, 
they  are  in  every  respect  but  size  and  great  speed  all  that 
can  be  desired.  They  are  as  sure-footed  and  as  easily  fed 
as  mules,  and,  fifty  to  one,  more  enduring  of  cold.  At 
their  own  pace,  from  five  to  seven  miles  an  hour,  they  will . 
jog  along,  perfectly  unwearied,  for  fifty  miles  a  day,  week 
after  week,  with  a  load  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  pounds 
on  their  saddle,  or  three  hundred  in  a  wagon  behind  them. 


INDIAN   PONY.  79 

Thej  are  very  docile,  apparently  as  intelligent  as  dogs, 
good-tempered  when  not  stallions,  and  extraordinarily  high- 
couraged.  We  once  saw,  some  five-and-twenty  years  ago, 
large  herds  of  these  ponies  running  half  wild  in  the  great 
meadows  of  the  Mohawk  Eeservation,  on  the  banks  of 
the  Grand  Kiver,  near  Brantford,  in  Upper  Canada ;  and 
afterward  travelled  many  daj^s  in  succession  in  a  light 
wagon,  drawn  by  a  pair  of  these  little  shaggy  brutes,  not 
much  bigger  than  ^Newfoundland  dogs,  both  thorough  stal- 
lions, hardly  able  to  see  out  of  their  little  fierce  eyes 
through  their  thick  shag  of  hair ;  and  we  were  singularly 
impressed  with  their  qualities.  Thej  were  driven  with 
the  least  possible  quantity  of  harness,  and  that  chiefly 
made  of  rope,  without  breechings,  bearing-reins  or  blinders. 
The  driver  had  no  whip,  and  said  he  dared  not  use  one 
to  them  if  he  had,  but  ruled  them  perfectly,  when  he  chose 
to  do  so,  by  his  voice.  Chiefly,  however,  he  left  them  to 
themselves,  and  admirably  did  they  perform.  The  roads, 
if  they  could  be  called  roads,  were  atrocious ;  often  axle- 
deep  in  mud;  often  over  corduroy  tracks,  made  of  un- 
hewn logs,  through  deep,  shaking  morasses,  full  of  holes 
that  would  have  engulfed  a  big  horse  and  his  rider,  and,  at 
times,  passing  over  large,  deep,  boggy  streams  and  rivers, 
on  a  species  of  bridge  which  we  never  saw  before  or  else- 
where, and  trust  we  may  never  see  again.  Whenever  they 
doubted  their  ground,  the  ponies  lowered  their  noses, 
snorted,  snuffed  at  the  doubtful  place,  and  seemed  to  ex- 
amine it  with  more  than  human  intelligence,  and  always 
in  the  end  scrambled  over  the  difficulty,  and  brought  us 
through  or  over  it  in  safety.  At  the  end  of  the  trip  we 
parted  with  our  small  equine  friends  with  real  regret,  and 
never  have  forgotten  them.  This  stamp  of  Canadian  pony, 
we  think,  by  all  odds,  the  best  animal  of  the  sort  on  this 
continent  for  teaching  boys  to  ride ;  and  we  should  feel 


80  PONIES — THEIJi   DIFFERENT   BREEDS. 

confident  that  by  breeding  the  largest  mares  of  this  race 
to  short,  compact,  stocky-bred  blood  stallions,  one  would 
obtain  a  most  hardy,  serviceable  and  beautiful  small  horse, 
partaking  in  many  of  the  best  qualities  of  the  lost  race  ot 
Galloways.  The  mares  could  be  easily  obtained,  for  a 
merely  nominal  sum,  from  the  upper  province  of  Canada ; 
and  we  verily  believe  that  it  would  prove  a  good  specula- 
tion to  an  intelligent  breeding  farmer,  to  attempt  to  raise 
some  of  this  stock,  so  rapidly  and  regularly  is  the  demand 
increasing  in  our  large  cities  for  horses  suitable  for  the 
young  people  of  the  wealtliier  classes ;  and  so  desirable  is 
it  that  the  taste  itself,  and  the  demand  to  which  it  gives  rise, 
should  be  encouraged. 


CHAPTER   VIIL 

HOW    TO    BREED    MULES. 

TALUE  OF  MULES— THEIR  HISTORY  AXD  NATURAL  HISTORY — THE  MULE  AND 
HINNEY — THOROUGH-BLOOD  WASTED  IN  THE  DAM  FOR  MULES — THE  MULE 
IN  THE  UNITED  STATES — LARGE  SIZE  NOT  DESIR.UJLE — VARIETIES  OP  THE 
ASS — THE   KIND   OF  MARES   TO   BE   SELECTED. 

How  important  this  branch  of  rural  economy  is  becoming 
in  the  United  States  may  be  seen  by  the  following  notice 
of  The  Columbus  Inquirer,  copied  into  the  veterinary  de- 
partment of  Porter'' s  Spirit,  and  the  comment  accompany- 
ing it:  "  A  few  days  ago  one  hundred  mules  were  sold  in 
Scott  county,  Kentucky,  at  an  average  of  $177  each.  Our 
Southern  planters  have  here  another  illustration  of  the 
fact,  that  they  can  never  fully  realize  the  high  price  for 
cotton  until  they  raise  their  own  stock  and  provisions ;  for 
the  high  price  of  one  is  always  attended  by  a  correspond- 
ing rise  of  the  other."  In  view  of  this  fact,  we  propose 
to  devote  a  little  space  to  the  examination  of  the  history 
and  natural  history  of  the  mule ;  the  advantages  which  he 
possesses, — as  he  does  possess  advantages  of  some  kinds 
and  for  some  purposes  over  both  the  horse  and  the  ox ; 
his  qualities,  and  the  host  and  most  profitable  mode  of 
raising  him  for  the  market,  and  for  producing  his  best 
qualities  and  characteristics. 

To  tell  persons  now-a-days  that  the  mule  is  the  hybrid 

between  the  horse  and  the  ass  vrould  appear  to  be  so 

absolute  a  truism  that  the  recipients  of  the  information 

would  be  very  apt  to  laugh  at  the  informant,  and  yet, 

4^  [81] 


82  HOW  TO   BREED   MULES 

strange  to  say,  few  persons,  comparatively  speaking,  know 
precisely,  if  indeed  at  all,  what  is  or  is  not  a  mule — mucli 
less  that  there  are  two  distinct  animals,  both  the  offspring 
of  the  horse  and  ass,  one  of  which  is,  and  the  other  is  not 
a  mule ;  much  less,  again,  what  are  the  distinctions  be- 
tween the  two. 

The  offspring  of  the  male  ass  and  the  female  horse — 
mare — is  truly  the  mule — in  Latin,  hemionus^  or  half  ass. 
The  offspring  of  the  male  horse — stallion — and  the  female 
ass  is  the  hinny — in  Latin,  hinnus ;  a  word  which  con- 
veys, as  does  the  former  word  hemionus^  a  distinct  sense, 
lost  in  the  corresponding  English  synonyms,  for  Mnnus  is 
a  derivative  of  the  verb  hinnire^  to  neigh ;  and  in  fact  the 
hinny  neighs,  while  the  mule  brays.  Nor  is  this  all :  for 
while  the  mule  has  the  greater  external  resemblance  to 
the  ass,  so  has  the  hinny  the  greater  external  resemblance 
to  the  horse ;  and  a  more  minute  examination  carries  us 
yet  farther,  and  shows  us  that  the  mule,  not  only  in  out- 
ward form  but  in  temper  and  characteristics,  has  more  of 
the  ass  in  his  nature — the  hinny  more  of  the  horse.  It  is 
in  a  considerable  degree  by  the  knowledge  of  these  facts, 
which  are  positive,  that  the  breeder  is  led,  when  he 
insists  that,  in  order  to  produce  the  greatest  advantage  on 
the  offspring,  the  excess  of  blood  and  vital  energy  must 
be  on  the  side  of  the  sire,  and  not  on  that  of  the  dam ; 
since  he  finds  invariably  that  from  the  jackass  and  the 
mare,  whether  the  latter  be  the  merest  dunghill  or  as 
thorough-bred  as  Spiletta,  the  mother  of  Eclipse,  springs 
the  mule  of  the  ass  type. 

The  mule  has  long  ears,  slightly  modified  and  shortened 
by  the  intermixture  of  the  horse;  the,  comparatively, 
hairless  tail ;  the  narrow  quarters  and  thin  thighs ;  the 
erect  mane,  the  elongated  head,  the  slender  legs  and  nar- 
row, erect  hoofs,  and  the  voiqe  of  the  ass.     The  hinny  has 


MULES   AXD   HINNIES.  83 

a  smaller,  better-formed  head,  the  flowing  mane. and  full 
tail,  the  general  form,  the  finer  coat,  larger  legs,  broader 
feet,  and  the  voice  of  the  horse.  What  would  at  first 
appear  remarkable  is,  that  the  mule,  or  offspring  of  the 
male  ass  and  mare,  is  a  far  larger  animal  than  that  of  the 
stallion  and  female  ass ;  and  not  only  that,  but  frequently 
larger  than  either  of  his  parents.  In  proof  of  which  may 
be  cited  an  advertisement  from  Porier\s  Sjnrii  of  the  Times^ 
of  Jan.  8,  of  this  year,  offering  for  sale  "a  splendid  pair 
of  jet-black  mules,  seventeen  hands  three  inches  high^  beau- 
tifully matched,  three  years  old.  They  were  got,"  it  is 
added,  "by  the  finest  Maltese  jack  in  Kentucky,  out  of  • 
thorough-bred  mares,  got  by  AYagner  and  Grey  Eagle," 
&c.  Now  these  prodigious  animals,  fully  equal  in  height 
to  the  largest  London  dray-horse,  which  would  probably 
w^eigh  nearly  two  thousand  pounds,  if  their  height  be  cor- 
rectly stated — which  one  may  presume  to  be  the  case, 
since  no  benefit  could  'arise  to  the  advertiser  from  a 
deception  which  must  instantly  be  discovered  on  exami- 
nation by  a  purchaser — are  the  produce  of  a  sire,  the 
largest  specimens  of  which  never  exceed  the  stature  of  a 
small  horse,  and  dams  which,  in  the  absence  of  any  knowl- 
edge on  thu  subject,  we  may  set  down  as  probably  not 
exceeding  fifteen  hands  and  two  inches,  and  certainly 
not  exceeding  sixteen  hands,  inasmuch  as  the  latter  is, 
ordinarily  speaking,  the  maximum  height  of  the  race- 
horse. Here,  therefore,  we  have  the  hybrid  offspring 
overtopping  the  sire  in  height  by  at  least  three  hands,  or 
twelve  inches,  and  the  dams  by  two  hands,  or  eight 
inches: — a  convincing  proof,  by  the  way,  of  the  absurdity 
and  hopelessness  of  expecting  to  produce  an  enlarged 
progeny  by  breeding  small,  weak,  undersized  mares  to 
large,  powerful  stallions ;  and  a  strong  argument  in  favor 


84  HOW    TO   BREED   MULES. 

of -having  the  size,  length  and  room  to  contain  the  foetus 
on  the  side  of  the  female  parent. 

The  mule,  again,  which  is  the  offspring  of  the  male  ass, 
has  the  great  excess  of  his  qualities, — the  incomparable 
endurance,  the  patience,  the  faculty  of  subsisting  and 
keeping  himself  in  good  condition  where  the  horse  would 
starve,  and  the  extraordinary  sure-footedness  of  the  ass, 
and  it  must  be  added,  in  a  great  degree,  his  temper,  his 
obstinacy,  stubbornness  and  passive  vice;  although  it  is 
believed  that,  both  in  the  ass  and  mule,  these  bad  qualities 
have  been  greatly  fostered  and  increased  by  the  ci'uelty 
and  neglect  of  ages — no  such  qualities  being  observed  in 
the  beautiful,  docile  and  tractable  asses  of  the  East,  where 
they  have  been  from  the  most  remote  ages  used  as  the 
saddle  animals  of  the  superior  classes — and  that  they  may, 
by  kind  and  judicious  treatment,  be  greatly  modified,  if 
not  eradicated. 

The  hinny,  on  the  contrarjr,*  although  hardier,  more 
patient,  more  enduring  of  privation  and  scanty  fare  than 
the  horse,  is  infinitely  inferior,  in  all  these  qualities,  both 
to  the  ass  and  the  mule;  while  he  is  at  the  same  time 
gentler,  more  tractable,  and  nearer  to  the  horse  in  temper, 
— strong  arguments,  it  will  be  observed,  for  seeking  inva- 
riably to  have  the  qualities  of  the  blood,  temper,  courage, 
spirit,  on  the  side  of  the  sire,  those  of  form  and  size  on 
that  of  the  dam. 

Both  the  mule  and  hinny  arc  clearly  modified  asses, — 
that  is  to  say,  they  have  both  more  in  their  composition  of 
the  ass  than  of  the  horse,  but  the  proportion  of  that??? ore 
depends  on  the  male,  and  not  on  the  female  parent.  It 
appears  that  the  vital  energy  and  powder  of  transmitting 
organization  is  stronger  in  the  ass  than  in  the  horse,  prob- 
ably because  he  is  entirely  in-bred,  less  changed  by  domes- 
tication, and  nearer  to  his  natural  condition  than  the  more 


MULES   AXD    lilXNIES.  85 

cultivated  and  more  liiglily  favored  animal.  Tlie  zebra  and 
quagga  are  yet  more  potent  in  this  strange  power  of  trans- 
mitting properties  than  even  the  ass  ;  for  it  is  an  established 
fact,  on  well  authenticated  record,  that  a  thorough-bred 
mare  having  once  produced  a  striped  foal  to  a  quagga, 
continued  for  several  successive  generations,  when  bred  to 
thorough-bred  horses  and  having  no  further  connection 
with  the  quagga,  to  produce  striped  offspring,  the  stripes 
becoming  fainter  and  fainter  in  each  successive  foal ;  a 
fact  which  has  led,  in  connection  with  other  circumstances, 
some  of  the  best  French  Physiologists  to  the  conclusion 
that  a  female,  which  has  once  borne  a  hybrid,  becomes  her- 
self a  hybrid,  and  can  never  again  bear  a  perfect 
animal  of  her  own  race ;  a  fact  certainly  worthy  the  con- 
sideration of  persons  who,  like  the  breeder  of  the  mules 
in  the  advertisement  quoted  above,  stint  mares  of  such  blood 
as  Grey  Eagle  and  Wagner  to  ^laltese  jacks.  Only  imag- 
ine their  faces,  should  they  after  this  breed  the  same  mares 
to  a  Lexington,  a  Monarch  or  a  Eevenue,  and  find  "the 
progeny,  on  its  appearance,  long-eared,  with  a  stripe  along 
its  back  and  a  bar  across  its  shoulders. 

It  is  clear,  then,  that  while  in  all  hybrids  of  the  horse  and 
ass,  the  latter  gives  the  greater  proportion  both  of  exter- 
nal and  internal  characteristics,  it  is  determined  by  the  sire, 
not  b}^  the  dam,  in  what  degree  that  excess  shall  exist; 
and  this  principle  will  lead  to  a  full  understanding  of  how 
mules  may  be  bred  to  the  best  advantage. 

Thus,  if  we  are  breeding  mules,  on  the  spirit,  courage, 
temper  and  characteristics  of  the  male  ass,  everything  will 
depend  in  the  production  of  the  like  qualities  in  the  prog- 
en  v  :  while  so  lono^  as  the  mare  is  sound,  strono-  enouo-h, 

,/  O  7  0  0/ 

bony  enough,  and  roomy,  it  will  matter  very  little,  so  far 
as  the  characteristics  of  the  young  are  concerned,  whether 
she  be  a  Suffolk  Punch,  or  as  pure  a  thorough-bred  as 


86  now    TO    BKEKD   MULES. 

Spiletra,  the  mother  of  Eclipse.  But  not  only  is  it  very 
certain  that  the  Grey  Eagle  and  Wagner  blood  is  wasted 
to  no  purpose  by  this  prostitution  to  vile  uses,  in  giving 
the  qualities  of  blood  to  the  moles,  but  it  is  even  question- 
able whether  two  stout,  sound,  active  Canadians,  or  Xor- 
mans,  would  not  have  thrown  better  foals  to  the  same  jack 
than  thes3  noble  mares,  thus  sadly  misapplied. 

On  the  other  hand,  if  w^e  are  breeding  hinnies,  we  want 
the  very  best  stallion  we  can  find,  in  blood  and  bone,  so 
that  he  be  not  disproportionably  large  ;  while  in  the  female 
ass,  we  only  require  soundness,  and  sufficient  size  to  render 
her  roomy  enough  to  contain  a  foetus  so  much  larger  than 
her  own  natural  i^rogeny,  as  the  hinny  foal  is  like  to  be. 
But  as  no  one  breeds  hinnies  or  is  likely  to  do  so,  this  side 
of  the  question  is  worthy  of  no  farther  consideration,  and 
wiih  a  few  words  more  we  quit  it  altogether.  It  is  gene- 
rally asserted  that  the  hinny  has  been  tried  and  found  nearly 
a  worthless  animal,  though  admitted  to  be  a  beautiful  one. 
rie^ias  only  Vjeen  bred  occasionally  in  Spain,  since  the 
great  decline  in  the  number  and  quality  of  the  male  asses, 
and  of  mules,  generally,  from  the  want  of  male  asses, — 
arising  from  the  frightful  consumption  of  those  animals 
during  the  Peninsular  war, — and  the  subsequent  incessant 
civil  wars  w^hich  have  convulsed  that  unhappy  country, 
has  rendered  it  necessary  to  supply  their  want.  We  are 
not  inclined  to  adopt  this  assertion.  We  believe  that  the 
hinny,  so  far  from  being  a  worthless  animal,  is  as  good 
as  he  is  handsome,  and  superior  to  the  mule  for  the 
uses  for  which  he  is  fitted, — that  is,  for  a  saddle  animal. 
But  being  inferior  to  the  horse  as  a  saddle  animal,  and  in- 
ferior to  the  mule  as  a  beast  of  draft  or  burden,  in  which 
respect  alone  the  latter  can  compete  wdth  the  horse,  he  has 
no  special  jDlace  of  his  own ;  and,  therefore,  it  having  been 
worth  no  one's  while  to  cultivate  hinnies,  they  have  fallen 


THE    DAM   FOR   HINNIES.  87 

into  disuse  and  got  a  bad  name.  It  may,  however,  well  be 
doubted  whether,  in  the  great  demand  and  inadequate  sup- 
ply of  handsome,  clever  ponies  suited  for  carrying  boys, 
young  ladies,  and  timid,  or  valetudinarian,  or  aged  persons, 
who  require  horse  exercise,  it  might  not  prove  an  exceed- 
ingly paying  speculation  to  import  a  few  of  the  very  finest 
and  largest-sized  Maltese  or  Arabian  female  asses, — which, 
by  the  way,  command  no  price  as  compared  with  the  jacks, 
and  to  breed  from  them  to  the  best  and  highest  bred,  un- 
dersized thorough-bred  stallions.  We  have  seen  abroad 
in  past  years  one  or  two  hinnies,  with  ears  but  little  larger 
than  those  of  a  coarse  pony,  with  long  thin  manes,  full 
tails,  sleek,  shining  coats,  which  were  altogether  beautiful 
animals.  They  have  a  good  deal  of  spirit,  and  the  patience, 
without  the  stubbornness,  of  the  ass.  If,  however,  it  has 
not  been  a  matter  of  profit  heretofore  to  raise  hinnies,  it 
has  been  far  otherwise  in  the  case  of  mules.  So  highly  were 
they  esteemed  by  the  Eomans,  that  we  are  informed  by 
Pliny,  that  Quintus  Axius,  a  Roman  Senator,  paid  four  hun- 
dred thousand  sesterces,  equivalent  to  thirteen  thousand  dol- 
lars, for  a  male  ass,  peculiarly  qualified  by  size,  beauty  and 
spirit  for  the  propagation  of  mules. 

They  are  now,  probably,  more  largely  bred  and  more 
highly  prized  in  the  United  States  than  in  any  other  coun- 
try in  the  world,  unless  it  be  South  America.  As  draught 
beasts,  beasts  of  burden,  and  for  field  labor,  thej^  surpass 
any  other  animal  in  the  world  ;  and  the  use  of  them  allows 
the  noble  horse  to  be  applied  to  his  own  proper  uses, — the 
saddle  or  speedy  light  carriage  draught, — and  not  to  field 
labor  or  the  rude  and  sordid  drudgerv  to  which  he  is  too 
often  degraded,  and  to  which  he  is  wholl}^  unfitted.  It  is 
claimed  for  the  mule,  and  rightly,  that  he  can  do  his  own 
work,  that  is  to  say,  field  work,  heavy  teaming,  and  car- 
rying pack -burdens,  all,  as  well  as  the  horse, — tlie   last 


Ob  HOAV    TO    EEEED    MULES. 

item  better  than  the  horse, — and  twice  as  much  of  each  one 
of  them  as  the  horse,  provided  he  be  not  hurried ;  keeping 
himself  in  perfect  condition,  where  the  horse  would  knock 
up  and  starve ;  that  he  can  do  all  this  on  half  the  food 
and  with  lialf  the  care  that  the  horse  requires,  although, 
the  more  food  and  the  more  care  both  have  the  better  they 
will  do  their  work ;  and  lastly,  the  mule  being  an  animal 
of  great  longevity  and  great  retention,  or  conservation,  of 
both  his  vital  energies  and  his  physical  powers,  is  able  to 
work  to  the  advantage  of  his  owners,  twice,  if  not  thrice 
as  many  years  as  the  average  of  horses.  These  are  the  in- 
ducements to  breed  the  mule,  and  to  apply  it  strictly  to 
the  purposes  for  which  it  is  best  fitted,  and  for  which  na- 
ture seems  to  have  intended  it. 

We  propose  now  to  treat  of  the  difference  between  the 
mule  of  Europe  and  that  now  generally  raised  in  the 
United  States ;  the  error,  as  we  believe  it  to  be,  in  the 
present  American  system  of  breeding,  and  the  best  plan 
to  be  adopted  for  raising  the  most  valuable  mules. 

Inasmuch  as  asses  are  not  bred  to  any  extent  in  the 
United  States,  it  is  of  the  first  consequence  for  breeding  to 
import  fine  jacks  from  their  native  countries,  of  the  breed 
and  description  most  suitable  to  the  purposes  for  which 
they  are  intended ;  and  of  the  second,  to  cross  them  with 
properly-selected  mares,  so  as  to  raise  mules  of  the  best 
type,  size  and  substance  for  general  work. 

And  it  will  be  well  here  to  observe  that  in  the  United 
States  generally  the  work  of  the  mule  is  and  ever  will 
contmue  to  be, — unless  some  radical  change  takes  place — 
which  is  not  to  be  expected — in  the  tastes  and  habits  of 
the  people, — field-work,  agricultural  labor  aaid  tcan-i -draught 
on  the  roads,  as  opposed  to  use  under  the  saddle  or  in 
pleasure  vehicles.  In  the  prairies,  plains  and  mountains 
of  the  extreme  west,  on  the  Mexican  frontier  and  on  the 


BEST    SIZE   FOR   A   MULE.  89 

California  route,  they  are  and  will  be  used  as  pack  animals, 
and  in  a  minor  degree  as  beasts  for  the  saddle,  both  for 
travellers  and  for  the  trappers  of  those  wild  solitudes ;  but 
this  is  the  exception  and  not  the  rule. 

jN'ow,  any  person  who  has  travelled  on  the  continent  of 
Europe,  in  those  countries  where  mules  are  in  use,  espec- 
ially Spain  and  Portugal — for  the  mules  of  Italy  and 
Switzerland  are  of  an  inferior  kind — cannot  have  failed  to 
observe  that  it  is  the  medium  and  even  the  small-sized 
mules,  which  are  the  most  highly  esteemed ;  that  the  great 
majority  of  the  race  do  not  exceed  fourteen  hands  in 
height,  so  that  one  of  fifteen  is  a  rarity ;  and  that  those 
nearest  to  the  standard  first  named,  are  most  prized  for 
their  hardiness,  while  they  consume  far  less  provender,  in 
proportion  to  the  amount  of  labor  which  they ''are  capable 
of  performing,  than  the  loftier  animals  of  the  same  breed. 
In  the  United  States,  the  ratio  of  value  in  the  mule  is 
exactly  the  reverse  of  the  above  in  general  estimation — 
the  largest  mules  being  the  most  highl}^  prized ;  and,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  all  pains  are  taken  to  raise  the  standard, 
and  to  breed  them  of  the  greatest  possible  height.  In  this 
aim  the  breeders  in  the  United  States  have  been  eminently 
successful, — if  that  can  properly  be  called  a  success,  the 
effect  of  which  is  to  produce  what  one  aims  at  producing, 
though  in  fact  he  had  done  better  to  produce  something 
else.  And  it  may  be  said  that  the  average  size  of  the  mule 
of  the  United  States  is  not  inferior  to  that  of  the  ordinary 
working  horse,  while  that  of  many  is  vastly  superior. 

"We  have  at  present  within  our  own  knowledge  many 
teams  of  working  mules,  employed  in  drawing  iron  from 
the  New  Jersey  foundries  and  in  carting  coal  and  ore, 
which  vary  from  sixteen  to  seventeen  hands  in  height, 
while  some  exceed  by  half  a  hand  the  latter  standard, 
which,  it  may  be  said,  is  never  attained  by  any  horse, 


90  HOW  TO  BREED  MULES. 

unless  it  be  tlie  huge  London  dray-horse,  an  animal  incapa- 
ble of  working  faster  than  at  a  foot's  jvace,  and  onlj^  bred 
in  fact  for  show  and  ostentation,  not  for  utility.  How  it 
is  that  an  animal  sprung  from  the  cross  of  two  species,  the 
sire  of  which  is  always  greatly  smaller  than  the  dam, 
should  be  larger  than  either  parent,  is  one  of  the  unex- 
plained mysteries  of  breeding ;  but  the  mode  in  which  it 
has  been  accomplished  is  no  mysterj^  It  is  by  selecting 
the  very  largest  and  loftiest  jacks  of  the  breeds  used,  in 
Europe  generally,  for  the  saddle,  and,  in  Spain,  for  the 
draught  of  public  conveyances  and  private  pleasure  car- 
riages, and  breeding  from  them  out  of  the  tallest,  largest 
and  most  roomy  mares  that  can  be  procured.  That  such 
dams  should  produce  hybrids  larger  than  their  sires  is  in 
the  natural  <iourse  of  things,  since — as  we  have  pointed  out 
in  our  previous  papers  on  horse-breeding — it  is  the  mare, 
furnishing  the  matrix  of  the  foal,  that  gives  the  size  and 
bone  to  the  progeny.  But  why  such  marcs  should  pro- 
duce a  much  larger  offspring,  to  a  male  infinitely  smaller 
than  themselves  in  stature,  than  they  would  bear  to  a  stal- 
lion of  their  own  race,  equal  or  even  superior  to  themselves 
in  height,  is  not  to  be  accounted  for  by  any  known  prin- 
ciples of  physiology.  The  fact  is,  however,  as  stated,  and 
the  result  is  not  desirable.  For  the  mule  of  increased  size 
appears  to  approach  somewhat  nearer  to  the  horse  in 
organization,  whereas  it  is  desirable  that  he  should  ap- 
proach nearer  to  the  aFS.  He  is  a  slower  aud  more  slug- 
gish animal,  than  the  smaller  breed,  is  less  enduring  of 
labor,  less  capable  of  toiling  under  extraordinary  tempera- 
tures of  heat — which  is  one  of  the  admitted  points  of 
superiority  in  the  mule  over  the  horse — and,  being  much 
heavier  in  proportion,  is  apt  to  sink  his  small,  narrow,  com- 
pressed hoofs  far  deeper  into  the  ground,  where  the  soil  is 
deep  and  the  roads  are  sticky  and  tenacious,  while  he  will 


VARIETIES   OF   THE   ASS.  91 

consume  from  one-fifth  to  one-third  more  provender.  Yet 
even  at  this  he  will  consume  so  much  less,  while  doing 
more  constant,  though  somewhat  slower,  work  than  the 
horse,  that  three  of  the  large-sized  mules  may  bo  -kept  in 
perfect  condition  on  the  same  amount  of  food  which  is 
required  for  the  support  of  a  pair  of  the  nobler  animals. 

It  is  evident,  therefore,  that  where  mules  are  not  re- 
quired for  show  or  speed,  as  saddle  or  carriage  animals,  as 
they  are  not,  and  probably  never  will  be,  in  this  country, 
the  smaller-sized  animals  are  the  more  profitable  both  to 
.  raise  and  to  keep,  for  the  purposes  of  labor. 

Now,  it  should  be  understood,  that  there  are  at  least 
three  different  varieties  of  asses — beside  the  small,  common 
jack,  supposed  to  be  of  African  origin,  generally  of  a  light- 
grey  color,  with  a  black  stripe  along  his  back  and  a  trans- 
verse list  or  bar  across  his  shoulders — all  of  which,  are 
more  or  less  used  for  breeding  in  this  country.  Although 
the  African  jack  above  mentioned,  is  rarely  used  in  this 
country  for  breeding  purposes,  the  mules  bred  from  him 
are  infinitely  the  most  hardy  of  all,  though  the  lowest  in 
stature.  The  other  breeds  are  these :  first,  the  large,  coarse, 
heavy  Spanislj  jack,  with  slouching  ears  and  a  dull,  plod- 
ding gait,  from  which  the  mules  for  agricultural  purposes 
are  ordinarily  raised  on  the  Peninsula.  It  is  this  breed 
which  has  been  so  much  exhausted  by  the  consumption  of 
the  Peninsular  war,  and  subsequent  internal  commotions, 
that  it  is  in  some  districts  all  but  extinct.  Second,  the 
Andalusian  jack,  with  shorter  and  more  erect  ears,  more 
active,  spirited,  and  sprightly  than  the  foregoing  species, 
yet  sufficiently  strong  and  well  provided  with  bone.  This 
animal  is  probably  no  other  than  a  slightly  degenerated 
descendant  of  the  Arabian  species,  which  has  become  some- 
what coarser  and  larger  boned,  as  well  as  less  spirited,  in 
consequence  of  his  long  residence  in  a  colder  climate — 


92  HOW    TO   BREED   MULES. 

though  stiil  warm — than  his  native  land,  and  perhaps  of 
crossing  with  the  species  first  described.  The  third  is  the 
Arabian  jack,  which  is  to  the  ass  what  the  thorough -bred 
is  to  the  horse, — taller  in  height,  lighter  in  limb,  slenderer 
in  bone,  Avith  a  high-carried  head,  shorter  and  always  erect 
ears,  and  a  higher  and  more  sprightly  spirit,  than  any 
other  of  the  ass  species.  It  is  said  by  those  who  have 
seen  and  examined  this  animal  in  its  native  land,  and  who 
are  competent  to  judge,  that  it  bears  so  close  a  resem- 
blance to  the  wild  ass,  Dziggtai,  Equus  Hemiorms^  of 
Persia  and  Mongolia,  as  described  by  Pallas,  the  naturalist, 
that  it  is  not  to  be  doubted  that  it  is  descended  from  that 
swift  and  beautiful  creature.  AVere  the  saddle,  or  harness 
before  pleasure  vehicles,  the  object  of  mule-raising,  this 
jack  or  his  representative,  the  Maltese  jack,  which  is  evi- 
dently directly  sprung  from  him,  with  little  or  no  degen- 
eracy or  deterioration,  would,  unquestionably,  be  the  best 
sire.  But  for  draft  mules  for  heavy  work,  these  jacks  are 
too  slender  in  the  limbs,  and  especially  too  long  in  the 
pasterns  to  make  eligible  sires. 

In  our  opinion  the  Maltese  jack  should  never  be  chosen 
as  a  sire  for  working  mules  in  this  country ;  but  if  he  be, 
he  should  be  bred  to  close-ribbed,  strong-boned,  stocky 
mares ;  Canadians  we  should  prefer  to  onj  other  form.  It 
is  our  belief,  however,  that  the  Andalusian  jack,  if  it  can 
be  procured,  is  the  mr^st  eligible  sire  for  the  United  States; 
but  as  it  is  understood  to  be  difficult  to  procure  this  race, 
it  would  be  perhaps  advisable  to  commence  from  the  com- 
mencement, and  proceed  to  breed  oiir  ov;n  jacks  for  the 
purpose  of  breeding  our  own  mules,  instead  of  having  re- 
course to  the  constant  importation  of  male  asses.  This,  in 
the  end,  would  prove  to  be  not  onl}-  the  surest  but  the 
cheapest  method;  and  it  is  confidently  believed  that  a 
superior  jack  to  any  now  existing,  f.^r  American  breeding 


VAUIETIES   OF    THE   A^S.  93 

purposes,  might  thus  be  produced.  In  the  islands  of  Ma- 
jorca and  Minorca,  to  which  tlie  ravages  of  foreign  and 
civil  war  have  not  so  far  extended,  it  is  well  ascertained 
that  the  large,  coarse,  slouch-eared  Spanish  breed  still  exists 
in  perfection:  and  thence  it  would  be  easy  to  procure  jen- 
nies— as  the  females  of  the  ass  are  technically  termed — by 
breeding  which  to  the  finest  Maltese  jacks,  there  can  be  no 
doubt  that  stallions  might  bx3  reared  superior  in  the  com- 
bination of  bone  with  beauty  and  spirit  to  any  breed  of 
original  jacks  now  in  existence.  The  choice  of  mares  from 
which  to  breed  mules  by  such  jacks  is  an  easy  matter.  They 
should  on  no  account  be  blood  mares,  or  highly-bred  mares, 
or  tall  mares.  Fifteen  hands  in  height  is  abundant  stature, 
and  fifteen  two  is  too  large,  but  they  should  be  rather  long- 
bodied,  roomy,  and,  above  all,  bon}-.  They  should  have  long 
shoulders,  as  oblique  as  possible,  since  those  of  the  ass  are 
very  straight,  a  peculiarity  which  it  is  desirable  to  correct ; 
and,  for  analogous  reasons,  they  should  not  have  the  pasterns 
too  stiff  and  erect ;  and  they  should  have  the  hoofs  large, 
round  and  well  opened.  The  better  their  necks,  withers 
and  heads,  the  neater,  in  all  probability,  will  be  the  pro- 
duce. On  the  whole,  we  have  little  doubt  that  fine,  well- 
selected  Canadian  or  Norman  mares  will  prove  to  be  the 
best  mule  mothers — as  thorough-breds  will  prove  to  be  the 
worst — while  Andalusian  jacks  or  half-breeds,  between  the 
Maltese  and  great  Majorca  race  of  asses,  will  prove  the 
best  possible  sires.  It  only  remnins  to  be  stated  that,  in 
order  to  have  mules  docile  and  gentle,  they  should  be 
handled  as  young  as  possible,  and  invariably  gelded  before 
they  are  six  month  old.  The  longer  that  operation  is  de- 
ferred, the  more  indocile,  obstinate,  and,  perhaps,  vicious 
they  will  become,  which  is  the  greatest  defect  in  the  char- 
acter of  the  mule,  and  that  against  which  it  behooves  the 
breeder  most  to  be  on  his  guard. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

HOW   TO    BUY    A    HORSE. 

OF  WHOM  TO  BUY— EXTRAORDINARY  CHEAPNESS  AND  EXTRAORDINARY  EX- 
CELLENCE NOT  TO  BE  EXPECTED — POINTS  TO  BE  REGARDED— HOW  TO  EXAM- 
INE THE  EYES— BROKEN  WIND — ROARING— WHISTLING — BROKEN  KNEES — 
TO  EXAMINE  THE  LEGS  — SPLENTS— DAMAGED  BACK  SINEWS— SPAVINS- 
RINGBONES— CURBS— THOROUGH-PIN— HOW   TO   TELL  THE   AGE  OF  A   HORSE. 

It  is  not,  of  course,  to  be  imagined,  that  any  person  entirely 
unacquainted  witli  horses,  the  points  of  their  anatomical 
structure,  their  constitution  and  their  qualities,  can  be  by 
the  mere  perusal  of  any  one  or  more  books  on  the  subject, 
at  once  created  into  a  good  judge  of  the  anim.al,  and  a  com- 
petent purchaser  beyond  the  risk  of  being  deceived  or  of 
deceiving  himself.  To  become  a  perfect  judge  of  a  horse 
requires  the  observation  and  attention  of  half  a  life -time  ; 
nor  with  every  man  will  these  be  sufficient ;  for  a  certain 
degree  of  natural  tact  and  talent,  or  adaptability  to  the 
study,  is  clearly  indispensable ;  and  there  are  some  men 
who,  if  they  were  born  in  a  manger  and  brought  up  in  a 
stable,  would  never  become  horsemen  or  judges  of  a  horse. 
Still,  there  is  no  doubt  that  a  person  desiring  to  purchase, 
and  desiring  to  exercise  in  some  degree  his  own  choice  in 
the  matter  rather  than  submit  wholly  to  the  guidance  of  a 
friend,  may,  by  carefully  studying  what  has  been  written 
on  the  subject,  qualify  himself  so  far  as  in  a  great  measure, 
using  proper  precautions  and  profiting  by  some  advice,  to 
secure  himself  against  the  probability  of  being  very  grossly 

[94] 


OF   WHOM   TO   BUY.  95 

deceived,  and  lo  obtain  an  animal  which  will  please  him  bet- 
ter than  one  selected  for  him  by  a  person  employed  as 
intermediate  between  himself  and  the  dealer. 

The  first  rule  to  be  laid  down,  then,  for  the  buyer  who 
wishes  to  obtain  a  superior  animal  for  his  own  use,  and 
who  is  neither  a  first-rate  judge  of  horse-flesh,  nor  a  first- 
rate  horseman  himself,  is,  not  to  attempt  to  buy  out  of  the 
farmer  s  or  breeder's  hands  ;  least  of  all  at  a  horse  fair  or 
agricultural  show, — but  from  some  large,  "well-known  and 
respectable  dealer,  one  who  has  a  character  to  lose  and  who 
is,  therefore,  not  likely  grossly  and  outrageously  to  deceive, 
although  he  will  probably  not  fail  to  do  what  he  can  in 
extracting  as  large  a  price  as  the  verdancy  or  eagerness  of 
the  purchaser  may  give  him  the  hope  of  obtaining.  The 
reasons  for  this  advice  are  as  follows : 

First:  Breeders  and  farmers  do  not  often  themselves 
know  what  their  horses  really  are  as  to  actual  soundness, 
much  less  as  to  speed, — which  probably  has  never  been 
cultivated;  or  endurance, — \vhich  has  almost  certainly 
never  been  tested.  So  that  a  farmer  or  breeder  will  often 
honestly  guarantee  an  unsound  horse  to  be  sound,  from  not 
knowing  enough  to  have  discovered  the  contrary.  The 
writer  saw  a  curious  point  of  this  kind,  when,  in  1837,  the 
authorities  of  the  Canadian  government  were  purchasing- 
fine  Vermont  horses  for  the  use  of  the  Eoyal  Artillery. 
The  dismay  of  the  formers  who  came  in  to  sell,  in  compli- 
ance with  advertisements,  was  extreme,  and  their  disgust 
yet  greater,  at  finding  that  not  above  one  in  three  animals, 
which  they  believed  to  be  perfectly  unimpeachable,  could 
pass  muster  as  sound  in  wind  and  limb  under  the  scruff  ny  of 
experienced  veterinary  surgeons,  who  at  once  detected 
the  germs  of  incipient  diseases  which  had  not  even  been 
suspected  by  the  breeder.  By  buying  of  the  dealer  you 
are  tolerably  well  assured  that  when  he  bought  he  believed 


96  HOW   TO    BUY   A   PIORSt. 

the  horse  to  be  right,  and,  therefore,  you  have  one  intelli- 
gent opinion  in  jour  favor. 

Secondly:  Breeders'  and  farmers'  horses  are  usually  so 
overloaded  Avith  flesh  and  fat,  especially  at  agricultural 
shows  and  horse  fairs — having  been  prepared,  in  order  to 
make  the  best  show,  by  feeding  them  on  hot  mashes,  boiled 
grain,  boiled  potatoes  and  the  like,  and  by  keeping  them 
in  hot  stables — that  it  is  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  to  come 
to  any  trae  judgment  as  to  the  horse's  real  points ;  and 
that,  even  if  the  horse  be  bought  rightly — which  means 
well  and  wisely — ^for  exactly  what  he  is,  and  about  what 
he  is  worth,  there  will  be  great  risk  of  ruining  him  utterly 
if  he  be  put  to  hard"  work  in  his  present  condition ;  and 
if  he  be  judiciously  prepared  by  his  buyer  before  putting 
him  to  work,  much  time,  much  pains,  and  much  expense 
will  have  to  be  laid  out  on  him  before  he  can  be  of  any 
real  utility. 

Lastly:  Horses  in  the  hands  of  the  former  or  breeder 
are  never  properly  bitted,  broken,  or  trained  to  going; 
and  unless  the  buyer  be  able  to  break  him  in  these  re- 
spects, to  form  and  finish  him  himself — which  is  to  pre- 
suppose him  to  be  a  perfect  horseman — it  will  cost  him 
half  as  much  more  to  have  him  trained  and  rendered  fit 
for  use,  by  a  horse  jockey  or  trainer,  as  it  did  to  become 
his  owner  in  the  first  instance.  Therefore,  it  is  ever  the 
better  and  wiser  way  to  buy  at  first,  of  a  reputable  dealer, 
a  horse  which  is  in  working  order,  whose  faults  and  excel- 
lences are  both  known  to  the  seller,  if  he  choose  to  let 
them  out,  and  which  can,  be  both'  critically  examined, 
owing  to  his  being  in  working  condition,  and  tried  on  the 
road,  under  saddle  or  in  harness,  if  desirable. 

The  second  great  iTile  is,  not  to  imagine  that  perfection 
can  be  bought  for  a  song,  or  that  great  excellence  is  com- 
patible \vith  great  cheapness.     A  remarkable  bargain  in 


GREAT   BARGAINS.  97 

horse-flesh  is  always  suspicious,  and  the  greater  the  bar- 
gain the  more  suspicious  he  becomes.  If  in  appearance, 
,  show,  beauty,  style  of  going  and  action,  the  animal  offered 
for  sale  be  very  superior,  and  the  price  at  which  he  is 
offered  very  inferior,  one  may  be  perfectly  certain  that  the 
horse  has  some  very  bad  secret  fault,  whether  of  temper 
or  constitution,  of  vice  or  of  unsoundness,  which  time  Avill 
be  sure  to  discover.  It  is  never  safe  to  take  it  for  granted 
that  the  seller  of  a  horse  is  an  ass,  or  is  not  aware  of  the 
worth  of  his  merchandise.  If  he  err,  nine  times  out  of 
ten  it  will  be  in  overrating,  not  underrating  its  value.  To 
get  a  good  horse,  ordinarily,  one  must  expect  and  be  con- 
tent, to  pay  a  good  price — the  more,  the  greater  the  num- 
ber of  excellencies  one  may  desire  to  obtain. 

These  rules  premised,  it  is  necessary  for  the  buyer  to 
make  up  his  mind  exactly  as  to  what  he  wants,  Avhich,  of 
course,  must  be  in  a  measure  regulated  by  what  he  has 
got  to  pay.  If  he  merely  wants  a  stout,  serviceable,  sound, 
active,  useful  brute,  without  caring  about  speed,  action, 
beauty,  or  blood,  he  will  be  readily  and  easily  accommo- 
dated for  a  moderate  sum,  say  from  $75  to  $125 ;  with 
each  of  the  other  additions  the  figure  advances  in  arith- 
metical progression,  until,  if  one  require  a  highly-bred, 
beautiful,  fine-stepping,  fast,  gentle  and  perfectly  broke 
horse,  the  price  becomes  a  fancy  one,  and,  according  to 
the  degree  of  each  attribute,  ascends  higher  and  higher, 
and  may  become  anything. 

Of  course  it  is  not  with  animals  of  this  kind  that  we  are 
dealing ;  nor  is  it  to  this  that  we  require  our  purchaser  to 
make  up  his  mind — but  as  to  the  use  for  which  he  requires 
his  horse  ;  whether  for  heavy  draft,  for  a  carriage-horse,  a 
light  harness  horse,  an  agricultural  horse,  or  a  saddle-horse, 
all  of  which  have  different  points  of  excellence  and  dis- 
tinct qualifications.     The  heavy  draft-horse  and  agricul- 


98  HOW  TO   BUY   A   HORSE. 

tural  horse  are  the  least  difficult  to  select,  and  the  lowest 
priced ;  the  carriage-horses  next ;  then  the  light  harness 
horse,  and,  lastly,  the  saddle-horse,  which  is  the  most  dif- 
ficult of  all  to  find  nearl}^  perfect,  as  requiring  the  greatest 
union  of  rare  qualities.  The  heavy  draft-horse  requires 
only  great  power  and  weight,  with  a  fast-walking  action, 
or  a  moderate  trot,  and  the  power  of  going  easily  to  him- 
self. The  agricultui-al  horse  requires  strength,  quickness, 
activit}^,  hardihood  and  courage.  The  carriage-horses  are 
to  be  estimated  very  differently;  size,  fine  figure,  great 
show,  stylish  action  and  a  moderate  stroke  of  speed  are 
all  that  is  needed.  With  none  of  these  animals  is  the 
manner  of  going,  of  being  bitted,  mouthed,  or  broken,  of 
so  great  consecjuence. 

For  the  light  h  arness  horse  more  is  needed — more  style, 
more  speed,  generally  at  a  slashing  trot,  which  may  be  as 
rough  and  difficult  to  sit  as  it  ma}^  ;  jDlenty  of  endurance, 
and^ above  all  a  good  mouth  and  a  pleasant  style  of  driv- 
ing ;  since  it  is  our  own  hands,  not  John's  or  Thomas's, 
which  are  to  be  excoriated,  and  our  own  shoulders  which 
are  to  be  lugged  out  of  tlic  sockets  if  he  be  an  inveterate 
bearer.  For  the  saddle-horse  most  of  all  is  needed.  He 
must  be  handsome ;  he  must  have  safe,  showy,  stylish 
action  ;  he  must  be  sure-footed  ;  must  have  a  fine  mouth, 
a  fine  temper,  lots  of  courage,  and  perfect  docility.  Above 
all,  he  must  be  an  easy  mover,  both  to  himself  and  to  his 
rider,  or  else  grievous  will  be  the  loss  of  temper  and  the 
loss  of  leather  to  the  latter.  The  best  saddle-horses,  un- 
less one  prefer  to  ride  gallopers,  arc  horses  with  not  less 
than  three,  and  as  many  more  crosses  as  possible,  of  thor- 
ough blood  on  any  good  common  stock.  Three  crosses 
from  Canadians,  or  two  from  Morgans,  make  capital  road- 
sters.    Thorough-breds  are  not  often  great  trotters,  since 


POINTS    TO    BE    KEGARDED.  99 

their  action  is  opt  to  be  too  straiglit  and  near  the  ground. 
When,  however,  they  do  take  to  trotting,  they  make  the 
best  trotters  in  the  world ;  as  thev  invariably,  and  they 
only,  make  the  best  gallopers. 

The  points  of  the  physical  structure  of  a  horse  on  which 
the  most,  indeed  the  whole  of  his  utility  depends,  are  his 
legs.  AYithout  his  locomoters,  all  the  rest,  however  beau- 
tiful it  may  be,  is  nothing  worth.  Therefore,  to  these  we 
look  the  first.  The  fore  shoulder  should  be  long,  obliquely 
set,  with  a  considerable  slope,  high  in  the  withers  and  their 
above.  The  upper  arm  should  be  very  long  and  muscu- 
lar ;  the  knee  broad,  flat  and  bony  ;  the  shank  or  cannon 
bone,  as  short  as  may  be,  flat,  not  round,  with  clean,  firm 
sinews;  the  pastern  joints  moderately  long  and  oblique, 
but  not  too  much  so,  as  the  excess  produces  springyness 
and  weakness ;  the  hoofs  firm,  erect,  or  deep,  as  opposed 
to  flat ;  and  the  feet  generally  large  and  round.  In  the 
hind  legs,  the  quarters  should  be  large,  powerful,  broad, 
Avhen  looked  at  in  profile,  and  square  and  solid  from  be- 
hind. The  hams  should  be  sickle-shaped,  not  straight, 
and  well  let  down,  so  as  to  bring  the  houghs  well  toward 
the  ground.  The  houghs  should  be  large  and  bony, 
straight,  not  angular  or  convexly  curved  in  their  posterior 
outlines  ;  the  shanks  corresponding  to  the  cannon  bones, 
short  and  flat ;  and  the  hind  feet  similar  in  form,  to  the 
front.  The  back  should  be  short  above,  from  the  point 
of  the  withers  and  shoulder-blade,  which  ought  to  run 
well  back  to  the  croup.  The  barrel  should  be  round,  and 
for  a  horse  in  which  strength  and  quickness  are  looked  to 
more  than  great  speed  and  stride,  closely  ribbed  up.  A 
horse  can  scarcely  be  too  deep  from  the  top  of  his  shoul- 
der to  the  intersection  of  his  fore  leg — which  is  called  the 
heart-place — or  too  wide  in  the  chest,  as  room  in  these 
parts  gives  free  play  to  the  most  important  vitals.     The 


100  HOW   TO   BUY   A  HOESE. 

form  of  the  neck  and  setting  on  of  the  head  are  essential 
not  onlj  to  the  beauty  of  the  animal,  but  to  the  facility 
and  pleasure  of  riding  or  driving  him  ;  hence,  a  horse  with, 
an  ill-shaped,  short,  stubborn  neck,  or  an  ill-set-on  bead, 
cannot,  by  any  possibility  be  a  pleasant-mouthed  horse,  or 
an  easy  one  to  manage.  The  neck  should  be  moderately 
long,  convexly  arched  above  from  the  shoulders  to  the 
crest,  thin  where  it  joins  the  head,  and  so  set  on  that, 
when  yielding  to  the  pressure  of  the  bit,  it  forms  a  semi- 
circle, like  a  bended  bow,  and  brings  the  chin  downward 
and  inward  until  it  nearly  touches  the  chest.  Horses  so 
made  are  always  manageable  to  the  hand.  The  converse 
of  this  neck,  which  is  concave  above  and  struts  out  at  the 
windpipe  like  a  cock's  thrapple,  is  the  worst  possible  form ; 
and  horses  so  made  almost  invariably  throw  up  their  heads 
at  a  pull,  and  are  those  most  exceptionable  of  brutes,  regu- 
lar star-gazers.  The  head  should  be  rather  small,  lean, 
bony,  not  beefy,  in  the  jowl ;  broad  between  the  eyes ; 
and  rather  concave,  or  what  is  called  basin-faced,  than 
Eoman-nosed  between  the  eyes  and  nostrils.  The  ears 
should  be  fine,  small  and  pointed ;  the  eyes  large,  clear 
and  prominent,  and  the  nostrils  wide  and  well  opened.  A 
horse  so  framed  cannot  fail,  if  free  from  physical  defects, 
constitutional  disease  and  vice,  to  be  a  good  one  for  any 
purpose — degrees  of  strength,  lightness  and  speed  being 
weighed  in  accordance  with  the  purpose  for  which  he  is 
desired. 

We  shall  proceed  to  point  out  some  of  those  more 
prominent  defects  and  ailments  to  be.  found  in  horses 
commonly  offered  for  sale,  and  a  few  simple  plans  for  de- 
tecting them,  under  ordinaiy  circumstances,  which,  where 
resort  is  had  to  no  villainous  jockeying,  will  be  found,  in 
most  cases,  sufficient  to  an  ordinarily  acute  observer. 


DEFECTS.  101 

DEFECTS  TO  BE  DETECTED  IN  THE  AGE  AND  EYES. 

As  to  the  age  of  horses,  we  would  observe,  that  the 
number  of  years  which  the  animal  has  lived  is  indicated, 
up  to  his  seventh  year,  by  marks  in  the  teeth  of  both  jaws, 
but  principally  of  the  lower  jaw,  wliich  vary  every  year 
until  the  eighth,  when  they  become  obliterated ;  they  are 
difficult  to  learn,  and  impossible  to  explain  without  the 
aid  of  diagrams,  which  will  be  furnished  in  this  chapter, 
with  more  minute  directions  for  ascertaining  the  age. 
There  is  a  system  of  jockey  rascality  by  which  false  marks 
are  forged  on  the  teeth  of  aged  horses,  making  them  to  ap- 
pear to  be  six  or  seven  years  old,  which  may  deceive,  and 
often  do  deceive,  novices,  but  are  thrown  away  on  judges 
and  old  hands.  This  system  is  called  Bishoping^  and  is 
executed  by  the  use  of  a  file  and  the  usual  cautery.  There 
are,  however,  some  signs  of  extreme  age  in  the  horse 
which  can  easily  be  recognized  by  any  one,  some  of  which 
are  infallible.  One  of  these  is  the  fact  that  in  a  young 
horse  the  crown  of  the  tooth  is  oblong  or  rather  obovate 
in  form,  lengthwise^  or  in  the  line  of  the  jaw-bone :  but 
that  in  very  old  horses  the  crowns  change  their  shape  and 
become  oblong  or  obovate  across  the  jaw-bone.  When, 
therefore,  the  tooth  has  assumed  this  form,  or  has  even 
become  much  modified  from  the  longitudinal  shape,  it 
is  certain  that  the  horse  is  too  old  to  be  a  desirable  acqui- 
sition. A  second  sign  is  the  length  of  the  teeth  from  the 
root  to  the  crown,  and  their  angular  protrusion  like  those 
of  the  hare  or  rabbit;  in  both  which  particulars  the  in- 
crease is  regular  with  the  increase  of  age.  Indeed,  the 
degree  of  this  protrusion  is  said  to  be  so  certain  and  in- 
fallible, that  a  machine  has  been  invented  by  the  French 
veterinarians  for  measuring  the  angle  of  protrusion,  by 
which  it  is  alleged  that  the  exact  age  can  be  ascertained 
up  to  any  known  period  of  equine  life.     Without  under- 


102  HOW   TO   BUY   A   IIOKSE. 

taking  to  answer  for  this,  we  should  advise  a  buyer  always 
to  look  to  the  points  mentioned;  as  it  is  extreme  age 
which  one  seeks  to  avoid,  with  reason,  not  matuiity,  or 
even  the  commencement  of  decline.  Except  to  a  racing- 
man,  it  matters  little  whether  the  horse  he  buys  be  fou]-, 
six,  eight  or  nine  years  old,  provided  that  he  be  sound, 
suitable  in  other  respects,  and  free  from  the  effects  and 
marks  of  hard  labor  and  wear  and  tear;  remembering 
always  that  if  the  buyer  requires  a  horse  for  immediate 
hard  use,  he  should  not  purchase  one  under  six;  and 
if  the  animal  be  perfectly  sound,  and  fresh  and  clean 
in  his  legs,  will  be  wiser  to  buy  at  eight  or  nine  than 
younger. 

We  now  come  to  the  eyes,  which  of  all  the  parts  of  the 
horse  are,  except  the  legs,  of  the  most  vital  importance, 
and  in  which  it  is  often  the  most  difficult  to  detect  imper- 
fection. There  are  some  species  of  blindness,  which  to  a 
common  observer  give  no  sign,  and  in  many  instances  the 
writer  has  known  the  eye  of  a  horse  nearly  stone-blind  to 
be  looked  at  casually  by  a  purchaser,  and  passed  as  need- 
ing no  further  scrutiny. 

'^ There  is  nothing,"  says  Youatt,  "which  deserves  so 
much  attention  from  the  purchaser  of  a  horse  as  the  per- 
fect transparency  of  the  cornea  (or  glassy  and  transparent 
portion  of  the  eye),  over  the  whole  of  its  surface.  The 
eye  should  be  examined  for  this  purpose  both  in  front, 
and  with  the  face  of  the  examiner  close  to  the  cheek  of 
the  horse,  under  and  behind  the  eye.  .  The  latter  method 
of  looking  through  the  cornea  is  the  most  satisfactory^,  so 
far  as  the  t  ran  spare  cv  of  that  part  of  the  eye  is  con- 
cerned. During  this  examination  the  horse  should  not  be 
in  the  open  air,  but  in  the  stable,  standing  in  the  doorway, 
and  a  little  within  the  door.  If  any  small,  faint,  whitish 
lines  appear  to  cross  the  cornea,  or  any  part  of  it,  they 


THE    EYES.  103 

are  assured!}^  signs  of  previous  inflammation ;  or,  although 
the  centre  and  bulk  of  the  cornea  should  be  perfectly 
clear,  yet  if  around  the  edge  of  it,  where  it  unites  with  the 
sclerotica  (or  hard  interior  covering  of  the  back  of  the  eye), 
there  should  be  a  narrow  ring  or  circle  of  haziness,  the 
conclusion  is  equally  true,  but  the  inflammation  occurred 
at  a  more  distant  period.  AVhetber,  however,  the  inflam- 
mation has  lately  existed,  or  several  weeks  or  months 
have  elapsed  since  it  was  subdued,  there  is  every  proba- 
bility that  it  will  return.  There  is  one  little  caution  to  be 
added.  The  cornea,  in  its  natural  state,  is  not  only  a 
beautifully  transparent  body,  but  it  reflects  even  in  pro- 
portion to  its  transparency  many  of  the  rays  Avhich  fall 
upon  it ;  and  if  there  be  a  white  object  immediately  before 
the  eye,  as  a  veiy  light  waistcoat  or  much  display  of  a 
white  neckcloth,  the  reflection  may  puzzle  an  experienced 
observer,  and  has  misled  a  careless  one."  It  is  hardly 
necessary  to  observe  that  the  existence  of  a  white  filmy 
spot  on  any  portion  of  the  cornea,  or,  still  worse,  an 
opaque  filmy  condition  of  the  whole  of  that  beautiful  and 
delicate  membrane,  is  a  fatal  defect,  the  latter  indicating  a 
total  loss  of  sight,  the  result  either  of  specific  ophthalmia, 
or  of  cataract.  But  it  may  be  well  to  mention  a  very 
practical  and  simple  mode  of  ascertaining  how  far  the 
powers  of  sight  in  a  horse  are  or  are  not  effected.  Hold- 
ing him  gently  by  the  head-stall,  let  the  observer  place 
himself  in  front  of  the  animal,  and,  after  caressing  him 
and  rubbing  his  nose,  so  as  to  avoid  giving  him  sudden 
alarm,  let  him  move  his  fingers  rapidly  toward  and  across 
his  eyes,  carefully  noting  how  far  he  starts  back,  or  winks 
his  ej^elids.  Care  must  be  had,  in  this  experiment,  not  to 
move  the  hand  with  so  much  violence  as  to  cause  a  cur- 
rent of  air ;  for  that,  striking  on  the  delicate  surface  of  the 
organ,  even  when  it  is  totally  bereft  of  vision,  will  some- 


104  HOW  TO  BUY  A   HORSE. 

times  cause  the  animal  to  wink  and  even  to  start  back,  as 
if  he  saw  the  motion  which  produced  it. 

DEFECTS  TO  BE  DETECTED  IN  THE  WIND. 

Next  to  the  eyes,  the  wind,  as  it  is  commonly  called,  or 
the  condition  of  the  lungs  of  the  animal,  is  to  be  exam- 
ined; and  this  is  liable  to  so  many  modifications,  and 
affects  the  animal  so  fatally  as  to  his  utility,  when  required 
for  even  moderately  rapid  work,  that  too  much  care  cannot 
be  had  in  the  examination.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  a  horse, 
with  the  slightest  imperfection  of  his  lungs,  windpipe,  or 
breathing  apparatus,  ought  at  once  to  be  rejected ;  as  there 
is  no  hope  of  its  ever  decreasing,  being  cured,  or  palliated, 
either  by  rest  or  by  work ;  but  on  the  contrary,  an  ab- 
solute certainty  of  its  growing  worse,  day  by  day,  and 
the  more  so  the  faster  and  more  regularly  the  animal  is 
worked,  until  it  becomes  absolutely  broken-winded  and 
useless. 

In  this  stage  of  the  disease  it  needs  no  examination  to 
detect  it :  when  at  work,  the  loud,  sobbing  breath,  and 
the  laborious  heaving  and  jerking  collapse  of  the  flanks, 
show  it  too  plainly  to  be  mistaken.  It  is  caused  by  a  rup- 
ture of  some  of  the  air-cells  of  the  lungs,  and  the  inspi- 
ration of  the  air  is  readily  effected  by  the  animal  at  a  single 
effort,  as  usual ;  but  the  expiration  of  the  air,  from  the 
ruptured  and  ragged  cavities  into  which  it  has  been  ad- 
mitted, requires  a  double  effort ;  and  wdien  the  disease  is 
in  its  worst  form,  even  two  efforts  are  insufficient  fully  to 
expel  it. 

Broken  wind  is  accompanied  with  a  hard,  husky 
cough,  which  is  not  easily  described,  but  cannot  be  mis- 
taken by  any  one  who  is  used  to  horses.  Broken-winded 
horses  can  never  be  cured,  since  it  is  not  in  the  power  of 
human  art  to  build  up  and  restore  a  broken-down  and  dis- 
5* 


THE   WIND.  105 

organized  structure  ;  but  there  are  jocky  tricks  by  which 
they  can  be  so  far  palliated  as  to  be  made  to  disappear,  fur 
two  or  three  days'  time,  under  any  moderate  observation. 
But  let  the  horse  be  galloped  a  hundred  yards,  at  his  best, 
up  hill ;  let  his  rider  spring  quickly  to  the  ground,  and 
apply  his  ear  to  the  chest,  and  the  double  expiration  will 
be  clearly  heard,  even  if  the  flanks  do  not  show — as,  how- 
ever, in  ninety  cases  out  of  a  hundred,  they  will,  by  their 
jerking  and  laborious  collapse — the  extent  of  the  affection. 
The  minor  and  secondary  modifications  of  this  disease  are, 
thick  wdnd,  roaring,  wheezing,  and  whistling — all  of  which, 
more  or  less  certainly,  degenerate  into  broken  wind,  and 
are  to  be  carefully  looked  for,  and  when  detected,  reso- 
lutely avoided.  They  all  arise  from  a  diseased  or  ob- 
structed condition  of  some  of  the  air  passages,  whether  of 
the  lungs  themselves,  the  windpipe,  the  bronchial  tubes, 
or  the  nostrils. 

Thick  wind  is  produced  by  insufficient  space  for  the 
play  of  the  lungs,  or  for  the  issue  of  the  air  through  the 
bronchial  tubes,  owing  to  the  thickening  of  their  mucous 
lining  consequent  on  previous  inflammation.  It  produces 
laborious  breathing,  only  effected  by  prodigious  exertion 
of  the  lungs;  often  extends  almost  to  suffocation,  and 
nearly  always  leads  to  broken  wind,  or  total  disorganiza- 
tion of  the  structure  of  the  lungs — of  some  portion  or  ram- 
ification of  which  it  indicates  either  an  orignally  faulty 
formation,  or  a  diseased  condition. 

EoARiNG-  is  a  modification  of  thick  wind,  produced  by 
the  existence  of  a  ring  of  coagulated  matter,  or  a  thick- 
ening of  a  portion  of  the  mucous  membrane,  within  the 
windpipe,  Avhich  produces  a  contraction  of  that  passage, 
and,  preventing  the  regular  issue  of  the  breadth,  renders 
some  exertion  necessary  to  expel  it,  and  causes  a  loud 
puffing  or  roaring  sound,  similar  to  that  of  sti'ong  and 


106  HOW   TO   BUY   A   HORSE. 

hoarse  exhalations,  the  inhalation  being  noiseless.  Eoar- 
ing  occurs  on  sudden  motion. 

Wheezing  is  a  modification  of  roaring,  and  is  produced, 
it  would  seem,  bj  the  lodgment  of  mucous  matter  in  the 
bronchial  tubes.  It  differs  from  roaring,  in  that  it  exists 
even  when  the  animal  is  wholly  at  rest,  and  in  his  stable. 

Whistling  is  a  second  modification  of  roaring,  from 
which  it  differs  in  that  the  noise  produced  is  shriller,  and 
that  it  does  not  occur  on  sudden,  but  only  after  continuous 
motion.  It  is  supposed  to  be  caused  by  some  contraction 
of  the  larynx. 

Animals  subject  to  any  of  these  diseases  speedily  be- 
come exhausted  by  exertion,  even  while  the  disease  is  in 
its  original  state,  apart  from  the  distressing  sound  which 
they  produce.  All  the  forms  are  liable  to  degenerate  into 
the  worst  form  of  broken  wind,  and  all  constitute  an  un- 
soundness for  which  a  horse  warranted  sound  is  returnable. 
The  modes  of  detecting  these  diseases  are  various,  but 
simple  and  easy  of  execution.  The  first  is  by  grasping 
the  horse's  throat  from  the  front,  and  forcibly  compressing 
the  mouth  of  the  larynx,  so  as  to  compel  him  to  cough. 
A  sound  horse  will  cough  07ice  and  recover  his  wind,  with 
a  clear,  sonorous  inhalation  and  exhalation.  The  diseased 
horse  will  utter  a  broken,  ragged,  rattling  cough,  and  re- 
cover his  breath  with  a  long,  wheezing  and  laborious  rale. 
This  sign  is  infallible  ;  and  the  degree  of  labor  and  diffi- 
culty will  certainly  indicate  the  degree  of  the  affection.  A 
roarer  may  be  detected  even  in  the  stable,  by  approaching 
him  suddenly  and  hitting  him  an  unexpected  slap  on  the 
belly,  when  he  will  utter  a  loud  grunt,  not  unfrequently 
accompanied  by  a  flatulent  crepitus.  When  the  affection 
is  confirmed  roaring,  it  will  manifest  itself  when  he  is  put 
to  his  speed ;  but  if  he  is  merel}-  a  whistler,  the  noise  is 
often  drowned,  particularly  when  the  disease  is  only  in  its 


LEGS   AND   FEET.  107 

incipient  state,  by  the  clatter  of  the  hoofs.  It  may,  how- 
ever, always  be  detected  b}^  the  rider  suddenly  pulling 
him  up,  after  a  long,  sharp  gallop,  and  listening  with  his 
ear  inclined  forward  and  downward,  and  brought  close  to 
the  windpipe ;  or,  if  he  be  not  readily  able  to  accomplish 
this  position  while  mounted,  which  he  may  not  be  able  to 
do  if  not  a  practised  rider,  by  dismounting  quickly  and 
listening  with  his  ear  applied  to  the  neck,  near  its  junction 
with  the  head.  If  the  wdiistling  be  bad  it  will  be  heard 
even  without  this  precaution,  and  will  continue  for  some 
seconds,  or  even  minutes,  after  the  motion  of  the  animal 
has  ceased;  but  this  method  of  auscultation  will  detect  it 
in  its  smallest  and  most  incipient  stage.  There  is  no  point 
in  which  a  tyro  in  horse  purchasing  is  so  likely  to  be  de- 
ceived as  in  the  wind.  It  requires,  therefore,  the  utmost 
precaution  to  detect  it ;  and  the  most  positive  determina- 
tion when  it  is  detected,  even  in  the  slightest  modification, 
to  reject  the  animal,  however  otherwise  irreproachable. 

DEFECTS  TO  BE  DETECTED  IX  THE  LEGS  AND  FEET.* 

We  now  come  to  the  diseases  and  affections,  or  mal- 
formations, of  the  legs  and  feet,  which  are,  of  course, 
most  fatal  of  all  to  the  horse,  for  any  useful  purpose 
whatever  ;  inasmuch  as  an  animal,  vrhose  only  utility  lies 
in  his  powers  of  locomotion,  if  deprived  or  seriously 
curtailed  of  those  very  powers,  is  nearly  valueless ;  quite 
so,  unless  he  be  an  entire  horse  or  a  mare  capable  of  pro- 
pagating its  species,  and  even  then  of  little  worth,  since 
no  one  with  judgment  cares  to  propagate  a]:iimals  likely  to 
inherit  lameness  in  their  blood. 

It  is  not  necessary,  of  course,  to  speak  of  horses  which 
are  absolutely  lame  at  the  moment  when  they  are  offered 
for  sale,  since  such  cripples  cannot  avoid  showing  the  ail- 
ment in  their  gait   the  moment  they  are   put  in  motion, 


108  HOW   TO   BUY   A   HORSE. 

especially  on  a  hard  road,  so  palpably  that  no  tyro  can  fail 
to  discover  it.  For  this  reason,  it  is  well  that  the  pur- 
chaser sliould  always  insist  on  seeing  the  animal  which  is 
offered  for  his  inspection  put  through  all  its  paces  rapidly, 
for  a  short  distance,  on  a  hard  surface  ;  since  many  cripples 
are  able  to  make  a  good  show  enough  on  a  soft  ride,  laid 
several  inches  deep  with  tan-bark  or  sawdust,  or  on  a 
piece  of  nice  turf,  which  if  put  in  motion  on  a  macadam- 
ized road  will  flinch  and  show  the  weak  point  immedi- 
ately. It  is  rather,  therefore,  the  points  which  indicate 
past  lameness,  likely  to  return,  or  the  incipient  traces  of 
what  will  probably  produce  future  lameness,  for  which 
the  purchaser  should  be  on  the  look-out,  than  for  actual 
lameness  which  displays  itself  on  the  spot. 

In  the  first  place,  we  will  observe,  that  white  hairs  in 
small  spots  on  bay,  brown,  black  or  chestnut  horses,  un- 
less on  the  face  and  feet,  indicate  wounds  or  abrasures, 
where  the  roots  of  the  hair  have  been  injured  so  far  as  to 
weaken  the  subsequent  growth  ;  bare  spots  indicate  wounds 
of  greater  depth,  where  the  roots  of  the  hair  have  been 
entirely  destroyed. 

Broken  Knees.  White  spots  on  the  knees  show  that 
the  horse  has  broken  his  knees  at  some  time  or  other,  and 
ninety-nine  times  out  of  a  hundred  by  falling — although  the 
owner  will  always  have  a  good  reason  for  the  blemish,  that 
the  horse  was  trying  to  leap  a  stone  wall  out  of  the  pasture 
and  grazed  his  knees  on  the  coping  ;  or  that  he  reared  up 
in  the  stable  and  barked  them  against  the  under  side  of 
the  manger;  or  something  else  equally  likely  to  have 
happened.  Now,  a  broken  knee  from  a  fall,  if  it  be  healed, 
is  no  defect  in  itself,  and  produces  no  unsoundness  ;  still, 
as  it  is  fifty  to  one  that  a  horse  which  has  once  fallen  will, 
under  the  like  circumstances,  fall  again,  a  broken-kneed 
horse  is  to  be  eschewed  even  more  than  a  runaway  or  a 


EXAMINING    THE    LEGS.  109 

kicker.  And  as  it  is  fifty  to  one  that  every  broken-kneed 
horse  is  a  stumbler,  and  that  every  horse  with  white  or 
bare  patches  on  his  knees  is  both  a  broken-kneed  horse 
and  a  stumbler,  no  one  should  buy  a  horse  with  bare  or 
white  patches  on  his  knees. 

In  Examining  the  Legs  of  a  Hoese,  the  purchaser 
should  first  stand  with  his  face  to  the  broadside  of  the  horse 
as  he  stands  on  flat  ground,  and  observe  whether  he  rests 
perpendicularly  on  all  his  legs,  having  the  natural  propor- 
tion of  his  weight  on  each  leg  straightly,  squarely  and  di- 
rectly ;  or  whether  he  stands  with  all  his  legs  straddled 
outside  of  their  true  aplomb  ;  or  with  all  drawn  together 
under  the  centre  of  his  belly,  as  if  he  were  trying  to  stick 
them  all  into  a  hat ;  or  lastly,  whether  he  favors  one  or 
more  of  his  legs,  either  by  pointing  it  forward  or  by  placing 
it  in  any  position  in  which  no  weight  at  all  or  a  very  small 
stress  of  weight  is  thrown  upon  it.  A  horse  may  appar- 
ently favor  one  foot  accidentally,  from  a  casual  impatience 
or  restlessness.  He  is  not,  therefore,  to  be  rejected  because 
lie  points  a  toe  once  or  twice.  But  if  he  seem  to  do  so,  he 
should  be  constantly  brought  back  to  the  original  position, 
in  which  he  must  bear  equally  on  each  foot ;  when,  if  he  be 
found  constantly  to  favor  the  same  foot  in  the  same  man- 
ner, something  serious  must  be  suspected,  which  gives  the 
horse  uneasiness  and  pain,  though  not  perhaps  sufficient  in 
degree  to  produce  present  lameness.  If  the  toe  of  a  fore 
foot  be  persistently  pointed  forward,  disease  of  the  navicu- 
lar, commonly  known  as  the  coffin  bone,  is  to  be  suspected, 
than  wdiich  no  worse  or  less  curable  disease  exists.  If 
both  the  fore  feet  are  protruded  and  the  hind  feet  thrown 
back,  as  if  the  horse  were  about  to  stale,  he  has  probably 
been  at  some  time  foundered.  If  he  stand  with  all  his  feet 
drawn  together  under  him,  he  is  generally  entirely  used  up, 
and  what  is  called  groggy.     If  he  stand  with  one  or  both 


110  now    TO    BL'Y   A    HORSE. 

liis  knees  bent  forward  and  his  legs  tremidous,  or  with  both 
his  fetlock  joints  knuckled  forward  over  his  pasterns,  one 
may  be  sure  that  however  good  he  ma}^  once  have  been, 
he  has  been  knocked  to  pieces  or  injured  by  hard  diiving 
and  hard  ^vork.  Supposing  the  horse  now  to  stand  square 
and  true  on  all  his  legs,  leaning  his  weight  on  each  and  all 
indifferently,  with  one  glance  at  the  horse  in  profile  the 
side  examination  may  be  held  as  complete  and  satisfiictory. 
That  glance  will  ascertain  whether  the  posterior  outline  of 
the  hock  joint  is  nearly  perpendicular,  or  whether  it  is  an- 
gular or  has  a  convex  curvilinear  protubei-ance  immedi- 
ately above  the  commencement  of  the  shank  bone.  This 
curvilinear  protuberance,  if  large,  is  a  curb  which  will  pro- 
duce lameness,  though  not  of  an  incurable  sort ;  if  not  large, 
it  is  either  the  trace  of  a  curb  which  has  been  cured,  but 
may  at  any  time  return,  or  an  indication  of  tendency  to 
throw  out  curbs,  on  being  put  to  hard  work,  especially  in 
heavy  ground.  Horses  which  have  been  curbed,  or  which 
have  curbed-shaped  hocks,  are  generally  to  be  avoided ; 
but,  as  it  is  generally  colts  which  throw  out  curbs,  when  first 
put  to  hard  w'ork,  an  old  horse  which  has  done  his  share  of 
work  without  having  been  actually  curb:d,  is  not  to  be  ab- 
solutely rejected  because  he  has  what  are  commonly  called 
curb}^  hocks;  for,  that  he  has  not  yet  thrown  them  out, 
under  the  stress  of  his  early  hard  work,  is,  to  a  certain  ex- 
tent, security  that  he  will  not  do  so  now.  Had  the  tendency 
been  strong  it  would  probably  have  developed  itself  al- 
ready. 

The  side  examination  finished,  the  observer  should  sta- 
tion himself  opposite  to  the  head  of  the  horse,  and  see  that 
in  this  point  of  view  also  the  horse,  standing  or  moving, 
stands  and  moves  with  all  his  legs  perpendicularly  under 
him.  Not  to  do  so  does  not,  it  is  true,  indicate  disease, 
but  it  indi.^atcs  malformation,  inducing  awkwardness  and 


DEFECTS   OF   THE    LEGS.  Ill 

sometimes  weakness.  A  knock-kneed  or  bow-kneed  horse, 
before,  is  like  a  knock-kneed  or  bow-kneed  man  •  if  the 
former,  weak  and  shaky  on  his  legs;  if  the  latter,  a  clumsy 
mover,  and,  in  the  case  of  the  horse,  almost  sure  to  inter- 
fere, or  strike  one  leg  with  the  inner  edge  of  the  hoof  of 
the  other — a  ver}^  bad  and,  in  some  cases,  very  dangerous 
fault.  If,  behind,  the  hocks  are  drawn  in  and  the  shanks 
diverge  outwardly,  the  horse  is  said  to  be  cat-hammed  or 
cow-hocked ;  and  this  is  a  serious  malfoi-mation.  an  un- 
gainly defect,  and  a  cause  and  sign  of  weakness.  If,  on 
the  contrary,  the  hocks  and  legs  are  unusually  wide  apart, 
so  that  the  animal  straddles  in  going,  while  it  is  a  decided 
point  of  strength,  and  consequently  no  defect  in  a  mere  draft 
horse,  it  is  jet  ungainly  and  against  a  high  degree  of  speed, 
especially  in  a  galloper.  Somic  trotters  of  great  speed  have 
been  straddlers  behind ;  and  when  this  is  the  case  and  the 
animal  is  needed  for  harness  only,  as  it  is  a  sure  mark  of 
strength,  it  is  not  to  be  avoided,  although  ungainly  ;  for  a 
saddle-horse  it  is  decidedly  objectionable,  since  it  produces 
a  style  of  action  which  is  extremely  disagreeable  to  the 
rider. 

His  examination  concluded,  the  purchaser  must  examine 
the  several  legs,  for  distinct  marks  of  structural  unsound- 
ness. The  chief  of  these  are,  in  the  fore  legs,  splents,  dam- 
aged hack  sinews^  and  ringbones  or  side  hoiies — in  the  hind 
legs,  hone^  bloody  or  bog  spavins  ;  curbs,  which  have  been  de- 
scribed above  ;  thorough  pins,  and,  as  in  the  fore  legs,  ring- 
bones  or  side  bones. 

Splents  are  small  excrescences  of  the  bone,  extruding 
laterally  from  the  canon  bones,  or  shanks  ;  they  sometimes 
produce  lameness,  if  so  near  to  the  knee  as  to  interfere 
with  the  action  of  the  joint,  or  so  far  back  as  to  interfere 
with  the  play  of  the  back  sinews.  If  on  the  middle  of  the 
bone,  and  nearly  midway  between  the   knee  and  fetlock, 


112  HOW  TO   BUY   A  HORSE. 

they  are  of  little  consequence.  In  fact,  if  a  horse  be  not 
lame  of  them,  they  are  of  less  importance  than  is  gene- 
rally considered  to  be  the  case.  They  will  generally  yield 
to  blistering  and  acupuncturing.  Still,  a  splenty  horse  is, 
coeteris  paribus^  to  be  avoided  ;  rather,  however,  in  our  opin- 
ion, because  it  shows  a  tendency  to  form  bony  excres- 
cences, than  from  the  actual  evil  that  they  do. 

Damaged  Back  Sinews  arise  from  the  giving  way  of 
those  most  important  motors,  in  consequence  of  wrench, 
or  strain,  or  over-exertion.  However  momentarily  cured, 
or  relieved,  a  horse  whose  back  sinews  have  once  yielded, 
is  never  again  to  be  depended  upon.  These  sinews  run 
down  the  back  of  the  leg,  immediately  in  the  rear  of  the 
canon  bone,  from  the  hock  to  the  fetlock,  and  in  their 
proper  condition,  should  be  as  round,  as  tense  and  as  firm 
as  a  harp-string,  and  connected  to  the  bone  by  a  sheath 
of  firm  yet  elastic  ligaments.  The  state  of  these  is  ascer- 
tained by  grasping  the  leg,  from  before  backward,  and 
running  the  hand  downward  from  the  knee  to  the  fetlock, 
with  the  nails  of  the  thumb  and  middle  finger  in  the 
groove  formed  by  the  connection  of  the  canon  bone  and 
sinew.  If  the  sheath  be  even,  free  from  loose  cells  or 
flexures,  and  if  the  sinew  be  firm,  round,  straight  and 
cord-like,  all  is  right.  But  if  it  be  in  places  detached  par- 
tially from  the  bone,  flexed  inward  or  outward,  or  if  it 
feel  spongy  or  knotty,  it  is  certain  that  something  lins 
gone  wrong,  and  will,  or  at  least  may,  be  wrong  again. 
If  pinched  at  the  places  where  the  flexures,  detachments, 
sponginess  or  knottiness  occur,  the  horse  will  often  evince 
pain  and  wince  manifestly  from  the  pressure.  Damaged 
back  sinews,  if  they  do  not  produce  present  lameness,  do 
not  constitute  unsoundness,  but  they  do  constitute  a 
serious  blemish,  and  are,  in  our  judgment,  an  all-sufficient 
obstacle  to  purchasing. 


DEFECTS  OF  THE   LEGS.  118 

KiNGBONE  is  a  circular  excresence  of  the  bone,  as  its 
name  indicates,  encircling  the  coronet,  or  part  of  the  foot 
immediately  above  the  junction  of  the  hair  and  hoof.  It 
produces  one  of  the  worst  and  the  most  incurable  of  all 
foot  lamenesses. 

Side-hone  is  the  same  affection  when  it  is  only  partial — 
not  forming  a  complete  ring  round  the  foot.  It  produces 
the  same  lameness,  and  is  equally  incurable.  It  is  com- 
mon to  both  fore  and  hind  feet,  although  far  more  frequent 
before.  It  can  easily  be  detected  by  the  hand  passed  care- 
fully over  the  part. 

Of  navicular  disease  and  other  deep-seated  lamenesses, 
there  are  no  exterior  signs,  and,  if  the  animal  do  not  go 
lame,  they  are  undiscoverable  and  beyond  suspicion ;  it 
needs  not,  therefore,  to  allude  to  them. 

Glean  legs  are  those  free  from  all  splents,  bony  excres- 
cences and  protuberances,  the  effect  of  accident  or  knock- 
ing about. 

Fresh  legs  are  those  in  which  there  are  no  windgalls  or 
puffy  excrescences  of  the  skin,  but  in  which  the  bones, 
sinews,  ligaments  and  cuticle  are  all  in  their  normal  and 
proper  condition. 

In  the  hind  legs  the  joint  most  to  be  looked  to  is  the 
hock,  and  the  ailment  most  to  be  dreaded,  the  spavin. 

The  Spavin  is  either  bone,  blood  or  bog,  all  equally 
producing  a  desperate  and  dangerous  lameness;  but  the 
first  curable,  the  last  two  utterly  incurable.  The  first  is 
a  bony  excrescence  of  the  inward  and  lower  anterior  por- 
tion of  the  hock  joint.  It  is  discoverable  by  the  eye 
looking  from  before  backward,  or  by  the  hand.  It  some- 
times produces  total  lameness;  sometimes  severe  lame- 
ness on  first  starting,  which  passes  entirely  away  as  soon 
as  the  animal  gets  warm  to  his  work ;  and  sometimes, 
though  rarely,  exists  without  producing  any  lameness  at 


o  > 


114  now   TO   BUY   A   HORSE. 

all.  It  is  sometimes  curable  by  firing  and  blisterin 
sometimes  utterly  incurable.  It  is  always  an  absolute 
cause  for  not  purchasing  any  horse;  but  not  alwaj^s  an 
absolute  cause  for  selling  an  otherwise  good  horse.  We 
once  drove  a  grey  grandson  of  ^lessenger,  for  five  years, 
who  had  a  very  large  bone  spavin  in  the  ver\^  worst  place. 
lie  invariably  took  his  three  first  steps  from  a  stationary 
position,  however  momentary  the  duration  of  the  time  he 
had  been  at  rest,  like  a  dead-lame  horse,  bnt  tlien  went  as 
sound  as  any  other  horse  in  the  world,  until  he  again  stood 
still.  No  day  was  too  long  for  him,  nor  was  every  day  in 
a  month  too  often.  But,  after  all,  he  was  not  the  rule,  but 
the  exception  which  proves  the  rule. 

Bog  spavin  is  the  extravasation  of  the  synovial  fluid, 
which  lubricates  the  joint,  and  its  collection  in  a  sac  in  the 
inward  and  lower  anterior  portion  of  the  hock  joint,  some- 
what within  and  before  the  point  at  which  the  bone  spavin 
occurs.  It  may  be  seen  partially  in  profile,  but  can  be  felt 
readily  by  pressure  of  the  hand,  under  which  it  fluctuates. 

Blood  spavin  is  a  similar  extravasation  of  artei-ial  blood 
and  formation,  nearly  in  the  same  place,  of  a  sort  of 
aneurismal  sac.  It  is  detected  as  before,  and  may  be  dis- 
tinguished from  the  bog  spavin  by  the  fact  that  it  pulsates. 
Both  these  spavins  are  incurable  under  any  ordinary  treat- 
ment ;  the  former  absolutely  so.  It  is  possible  that  tying 
the  artery  might  reduce  the  latter,  but  we  are  not  aware 
that  the  operation  has  ever  been  tried. 

Thoroughpin  is  a  similar  extravasation  of  the  synovial 
fluid,  and  the  formation  of  a  sac,  runnino-  between  the 
bones  of  the  hock  joint,  not  from  the  front  backward,  but 
across  the  joint,  from  side  to  side.  It  can  be  easily  de- 
tected by  the  fingers,  under  the  pressure  of  which  the 
fluid  can  be  felt  to  ebb  and  flow  from  side  to  side. 
Thoroughpin,  like  the  kindred  spavins,  is  incurable.     It 


THE   AGE   OF   A   HORSE.  ll;j 

is  needless  to  say  that  every  horse  with  determined  bone, 
bog  or  blood  spavin,  or  with  thoroughpin,  must  be  sum- 
maril}^  rejected,  but  not  needless  to  saj'  that  everj-  one 
with  any  tendency  to  irregular  bony  enlargement,  or  to 
puffiness  in  the  places  indicated,  should  be  peremptoiilj^ 
refused  as  something  more  than  suspicious. 

These  are  the  points  which  it  is  most  necessary  for  the 
purchaser  to  look  to;  still,  even  if  he  be  a  really  good 
amateur  judge  of  a  horse,  he  will  be  wise  not  to  buy 
except  of  a  person  of  whom  he  knows  something — not  to 
buy  without  a  guaranty  of  soundness;  and  above  all,  not 
without  the  opinion  of  a  reputable  veterinary  surgeon, 
whom  he  knows  to  have  no  interest  in  the  sale,  or  friend- 
ship with  the  seller.  Even  so,  he  will  never  be  perfectly 
sure  that  he  will  not  himself  be  sold ;  for,  as  a  distin- 
guished novelist  has  well  observed,  although  there  is  no 
honester  beast  in  the  whole  range  of  creation  than  a  horse, 
no  other  has  so  singular  a  faculty  for  making  men  dis- 
honest. 

How  TO  Tell  the  Age  of  a  Hokse. — The  age  of  the 
horse  is  usually  determined  by  the  appearance  of  the  teeth ; 
of  these  there  are  two  sets:  first  the  milk  teeth,  which 
come  before  the  age  of  one  year ;  second,  the  "  permanent 
set"  which  come  soon  after  the  falling  out  of  the  former  ; 
this  change  is  completed  at  the  age  of  five  years. 

The  teeth  which  are  most  uniform  in  their  progression 
are  the  nippers  or  incisors,  those  on  the  lower  jaw  being 
ordinarily  referred  to.  Of  these  nippers  there  are  six, — 
those  farthest  from  the  centre  are  called  "  corner  teeth." 

These  corner  teeth,  and,  indeed,  all  of  the  nippers,  are 
composed  of  a  bony  substance  which  is  inclosed  in  the 
enamel,  which  gives  hardness  to  the  teeth.  Their  form  is 
somewhat  conical,  though  irregularly  so  (fig.  1).  The  top 
of  the  newly-formed  tooth,  say  the  corner  tooth  of  a  five- 


116 


HOW   TO   BUY   A   HORSE. 


years-old  horse,  is  long  from  side  to  side,  while,  a  little  far- 
ther down,  the  form  becomes  more  triangular ;  and  near 
the  bottom— that  pai-t  of  the  tooth  which  is  below  the  gams 

in  early  life — it  is  long  from 
front  to  rear,  and  narrow  from 
side  to  side.  This  is  shown  in 
fig.  2,  which  represents  a  tooth 
cut  across  at  various  distances 
from  the  top  of  the  crown, 
and  in  which  the  different 
forms  of  the  different  parts  of 
•  the  tooth  are  plainly  represent- 
ed. Now  sup- 
pose the  tooth 
to  be  split  down  ^ 
the  middle,from 
one  end  to  the 
other,  on  a  line 
passing  across  the  top  of  the  tooth,  from  the 
outer  side  to  the  inn:er  side,  as  the  tooth* 
stands  in  the  jaw.  Tiiis  will  give  a  sec- 
tional appearance,  like  that  in  fig.  3,  the 
concave  side  being  tho  inner  side.  The  hard 
enamel  which  coats  the  outer  portion  of  the 
tooth  folds  inward  and  passes  down,  forming  a  cavity, 
nearly  to  the  bottom  of  the  tooth,  and  then  returns  near 
the  inner  edge,  until  it  joins  the  exterior  coating  of  en- 
amel on  that  side.  The  cavity  thus  formed  is  filled  with 
a  dark-colored  matter,  and  it  is  closed,  or  nearly  closed, 
at  the  top  by  a  dishing  cover  of  enamel.  We  are  now 
prepared  to  understand  how  the  appearance  of  the  teeth 
becomes  changed  wi;:h  age.  The  corner  tooth,  at  five 
years  of  age,  is  lon{5  from  side  to  side,  and  has,  at  its 
summit,    a     deep    cavity,    called    a    "mark,"   which    is 


Fig.  1. 


Fig.  2. 


6 


THE   AGE. 


117 


represented  at  the 
tops  of  figures  2 
and  3,  the  six  nip- 
pers, together  form- 
ing nearly  a  semi- 
circle ;  and  their 
general  appearance 
is  similar  to  that 
Fig.  4.  ^     represented  in  fig- 

ure 4. 

As  the  horse  becomes  older  his  teeth  are  worn  away  by 
use,  and  it  is  to  this  cause  only  are  due  the  changes  by 
which  we  determine  his  age.  The  effect  of  this  wearing 
down  is  the  same  as  would  be  that  of  cutting  or  sawing 
off  a  portion  of  the  teeth.  They  are  supposed  to  be  worn, 
down  about  one  twelfth  of  an  inch  per  year,  though  the 
precise  amount  must  depend  very  much  on  circumstances, 
such  as  crib-biting,  vigorous  feeding,  etc.  If  we  look  at 
the  mouth  of  a  horse  eight  or  nine  years  old,  we  shall  see 
that  his  corner  teeth  have  been  so  worn  down  that  the 
mark,  or  superficial  cav- 
ity, is  entirely  destroy- 
ed, and  that  the  surface 
has  descended  to  the 
point  marked  by  the 
lines  a.  «.,  figures  2  and 
8  ;  still  later  the  upper 
surface  of  the  tooth  descends  to  the  point  marked  by  the 
lines  h.  h.^  figures  2  and  3.  The  folding  in  of  the  enameh 
has  now  almost  entirely  disappeared,  leaving  very  little  dis- 
coloration on  the  teeth,  while  the  upper  surface  of  the 
tooth  is  almost  triangular  instead  of  being  long  from  side 
to  side,  as  was  the  original  surface.  The  teeth  of  the 
lower  faw  now  present  the  appearance  shown  in  figure  5. 


Fig.  5. 


118 


HOW   TO  BUY   A  HORSE. 


Fig.  6. 


At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  the  teeth  of  the  lower 

jaw   become   very  long 


from  front  to  rear ;  this 
having  always  been  the 
shape  of  that  part  of  the 
tooth  which  has  never 
until  now  been  made  ap- 
parent. The  teeth  at  this 
age  are  represented  in  figure  6. 

The  experience  of  horsemen  has  established  the  follow- 
ing rules  for  determining  the  age  from  the  appearance  of 
the  teeth  (we  adopt  the  classification  of  Pessina,  a  German 
Veterinary  Surgeon) : 

At  birth  the  teeth  have  not  appeared ;  six  or  eight 
days  thereafter  the  two  middle  nippers  of  the  set  of  milk 
teeth  are  cut ;  the  pair  next  to 
them  are  cut  at  thirty  or  forty 
days;  and  the  corner  teeth  at 
six  to  ten  months.  These  teeth 
have  all  the  mark,  or  superficial 
cavity,  when  first  cut ;  this  how- 
ever disappears  in  the  teeth  of 
the  lower  jaw,  in  the  middle  nippers,  in  ten  months ;  in 
the  next  pair  at  one  year ;  in  the  corner  teeth  at  from  fif. 
teen  months  to  two  years. 

The  milk  teet-h  give  place  to  the  permanent  set  as  fol- 
lows :  the  middle  nippers  at  two  and  a  half  to  three  years, 
the  next  pair  at  three  and  a  half  to  four  years,  the  corner 
teeth  at  four  and  a  half  to  five  years,— these  periods  may 
by  hastened  three  or  four  months  by  pulling  or  knocking 
out  the  milk  teeth. 

At  five  yearSy  the  corners  are  up  even  with  the  other 
teeth,  the  mark  is  entirely  worn  out  from  the  middle  nip- 
pers, and  partly  worn  from  the  next  pair  (fig.  4). 


Rg.  7. 


THE   AGE.  119 

At  six  years,  the  mark  is  almost  gone  from  the  second 
pair,  and  the  outer  edge  of  the  corner  teeth  is  worn  down. 

At  seven  years,  the  mark  is  entirely  gone  from  the  second 
pair,  the  edges  of  the  corner  t  jcth  are  worn  somewhat  flat? 
though  there  is  still  a  slight  cavity  in  the  centre. 

At  eight  years,  the  teeth  of  the  lower  jaw  are  worn  en- 
tirely flat,  the  mark  having  disappeared-from  all  of  them. 
The  form  of  the  surface  of  the  tooth  has  become  oval,  and 
the  central  enamel  is  long  from  side  to  side,  and  is  near  to 
the  front  of  the  tooth. 

At  nine  years,  the  middle  nippers  are  rounded  on  the 
inner  side,  the  oval  of  the  second  pair  and  of  the  corner 
teeth  becomes,  broader,  the  central  enamel  is  nearer  to  the 
inner  side,  and  the  marks  have  disappeared  from  the  teeth 
of  the  upper  jaw  (fig.  5). 

At  ten  years,  the  second  pair  are  rounded  on  the  inner 
side,  and  the  central  enamel  is  very  near  to  the  inner  side. 

At  eleven  years,  the  corner  teeth  are  rounded,  and  the 
central  enamel  becomes  very  narrow. 

At  twelve  years,  the  nippers  are  all  rounded,  and  the  cen- 
tral enamel  has  entirely  disappeared  from  the  lower  jaw, 
but  it  may  still  be  seen  in  the  upper  jaw. 

At  thirteen  years,  the  middle  nippers  commence  to  assume 
a  triangular  form  in  the  lower  jaw,  and  the  central  enamel 
has  entirely  disappeared  from  the  corner  teeth  of  the  up- 
per jaw. 

At  fourteen  years,  the  middle  nippers  have  become  trian- 
gular, and  the  second  pair  are  assuming  that  form.  The 
central  enamel  has  diminished  in  the  middle  nippers  of  the 
upper  jaw. 

At  fifteen  years,  the  second  pair  have  become  triangular ; 
the  central  emamel  is  still  visible  in  the  upper  jaw. 

At  sixteen  years,  all  of  the  teeth  in  the  lower  jaw  have 


120  HOW   TO   BUY   A   HORSE. 

become  triangular,  and  the  central  enamel  is  entirel}^  re- 
moved from  the  second  pair  in  the  upper  jaw. 

At  seventeen  years^  the  sides  of  the  triangle  of  the  middle 
nippers  are  all  of  the  same  length  ;  the  central  enamel  has 
entirely  disappeared  from  the  upper  teeth. 

At  eighteen  years  the  sides  of  the  triangle  of  the  middle 
nippers  are  longer  at  the  sides  of  the  teeth  than  in  front. 

At  nineteen  years^  the  middle  nippers  become  flattened 
from  side  to  side,  and  long  from  front  to  rear. 

At  twenty  years^  the  second  pair  assume  the  same  form. 

At  twenty-one  years^  all  of  the  teeth  of  the  lower  jaw 
have  become  flattened  from  side  to  side,  their  greatest 
diameter  being  exactly  the  reverse  of  what  it  was  in  youth. 


CHAPTER   X. 

HOW    TO    FEED    A    HORSE. 

CO^'SEQlJE^TCES  OF  IMPROPER  FEEDING— DIFFERENT  FOOD  FOR  IIFFERENT 
CONDITIONS— FOOD  FOR  THE  BROOD-MARE— FOR  THE  FOAL— FOR  "^VORKING 
HORSES  — GREEN  FOOD  — CARROTS— CORN— FEEDING  HORSES  IN  TRAINING- 
WHILE  TRAVELLING— SUMMERING  HORSES:  THE  BEST  ilETHOD- MANAGE- 
MENT  OF   OMNIBUS   HORSES   IN  NEW   YORK. 

To  those  who  are  really  acquainted  with  the  horse  and  ac- 
customed to  his  use,  it  is  well  known  that,  at  the  least,  one-half 
of  his  availability  for  work,  of  his  fitness  for  its  perform- 
ance, of  his  endurance  through  a  period  of  years,  his  health, 
his  beauty  and  his  value,  depends  on  the  quality  and 
quantity  of  his  food  and  the  manner  of  his  feeding.  At 
least  one-half  of  the  diseases  to  ^vhich  he  is  liable  are  di- 
rectly ascribable  to  bad  food,  or  good  food  badly  adminis- 
tered ;  to  insufiicient  food  or  to  over-feeding ;  to  want  of 
judgment  in  feeding  when  no  food  should  be  given,  or  in 
giving  what  Avould  be  the  best  at  one  time,  at  another 
time  when  it  is  the  worst.  Bad  stabling,  bad  grooming 
and  bad  clothing  are  nearly  as  bad  in  their  results ;  but  it 
may  be  safely  said  that  the  bane  of  most  horses  and  the 
shame  of  most  stables,  is  bad  feeding;'  and  that,  too,  when 
no  expense  is  spared  by  the  owner  in  providing  for  the 
best  and  where  nothing  is  wanting  but  a  clear  understand- 
ing of  what  ought  to  be  done  and  what  left  undone,  in  the 
way  of  feeding,  joined  to  a  system  by  which  the  groom, 
or  whosoever  has  the  duty  of  attending  the  animal  to  per- 
form, shall  be  compelled  or  induced  implicitly  to  obey 
orders,  if  he  break  owners. 

The  system  of  feeding  horses  is  diverse  and  complex ; 
it  cannot  be  presented  once  for  all,  or  laid  down  on  a  set 
6  [121] 


122  HOW  TO   FEED  A  HORSE. 

formula,  for  it  must  constantly  vary  with  the  various  qual- 
ities of  horses ;  the  various  conditions  to  which  every  in- 
dividual horse  is  liable;  the  various  kinds  of  work  to 
which  he  is  applied,  and  the  various  circumstances  under 
which  he  may  be  required  to"  do  his  work. 

Thus,  the  food  of  a  race-horse  or  a  match-trotter  will 
and  should  differ  essentially  from  that  of  a  carriage-horse, 
a  road-hackney,  or  a  riding-horse ;  while  the  food  of  these 
again,  as  also  their  stabling  and  grooming,  will  and  should 
differ  materially  from  those  of  a  team-horse,  or  a  slow- 
working  farm-horse.  Again,  the  food  of  a  gentleman's 
show  carriage -horses,  or  roadsters,  which  are  only  called 
upon  to  do  a  few  hours  light  work  on  four  or  five  days  in 
the  week,  and  which  stand  idle  in  their  stalls  half  the  time, 
yet  are  always  required  to  show  well  in  their  coats,  and  ex- 
ecute well  as  regards  wind  and  speed,  will  and  should 
differ  materially  from  that  of  horses  of  the  same  class,  in 
the  hands  of  another  owner  who  drives  or  rides  his  ani- 
mals over  twenty,  thirty  or  forty  miles  every  day,  with 
now  and  then,  only,  a  day  of  rest,  and  who  expects  to  have 
them  looking  well,  working  well,  in  good  heart  and  in 
good  condition  all  the  time. 

Lastly,  the  food  of  all  horses  must  vary  and  differ  from 
time  to  time,  according  to  their  age,  the  seasons  of  the 
year,  their  exact  state  of  health  at  the  time,  and  the  nature 
of  the  work  they  are  doing  or  will  shortly  be  called  upon 
to  do ;  and,  still  more  than  all,  must  vary  and  differ,  as 
they  may  be  standing  in  their  own  comfortable  stables,  or 
travelling  on  the  road  in  the  performance  of  a  journey, 
under  unusual  hardship  and  fatigue. 

In  the  iirst  place,  however,  to  begin  from  the  beginning, 
the  system  of  a  horse's  feeding,  as  well  as  of  his  grooming 
and  stabling  commences, — and  if  it  be  intended  that  he 
shall  be  a  valuable  and  superior  animal,  must  needs  com- 


HOW  TO  FEED  A  HOKSE.  123 

mence,  before  he  is  born.  If  his  dam,  while  pregnant  of 
him,  be  overworked,  be  under-fed,  be  neglected,  and  kept 
cold  or  filthy,  or  allowed  to  pick  up  her  own  subsistance 
as  she  may  on  open  fields  or  commons,  the  foal  must  be  a 
a  starveling ;  and,  ten  to  one,  will  never  attain  its  full  size, 
or  the  full  possession  of  its  powers.  If  to  neglect  be- 
fore its  birth  be  added  neglect  of  the  dam  and  young  crea- 
ture, both,  during  its  minority  ;  if  they  be  exposed  to  cold, 
to  rain,  snow,  heat,  in  a  word,  to  the  weather  and  its  chan- 
ges, generally ;  if  they  receive  no  food, — the  dam,  but  what 
she  can  gather  from  the  pasture,  and  the  foal,  but  the  thin 
and  unprofitable  milk  which  the  dam  can  produce  from 
such  sustenance, — if  they  have  no  comfortable,  airy  shed 
to  protect  them  from  the  scorching  suns  of  summer,  no 
warm  stable  to  shield  them  from  the  nipping  cold  of  au- 
tumnal nights,  the  foal  will  be,  from  the  first  to  the  last, 
but  a  wretched,  stunted,  starveling  creature ;  and  will 
never  repay  the  breeder  the  expense  or  pains  of  rearing 
him. 

According  to  the  nature,  quality  and  blood  of  the  foal, 
so  should  the  mare,  before  and  after  parturition,  and  the 
foal,  from  the  time  of  its  birth,  be  nurtured,  housed  and 
fed.  It  is  not  of  course  to  be  expected  that  a  cart-mare, 
in  foal  to  a  cart-stallion,  a  Norman,  Canadian,  or  Cleveland, 
or  Clydesdale,  the  produce  of  which  expects  only  to  be  a 
cart-horse  of  improved  degree,  or,  at  the  best,  a  heavy 
carriage-horse,  should  receive  the  pains,  and  have  the  ex- 
pense lavished  on  her  which  would  be  expended  on  a 
thorough-bred  mare,  having  the  blood  of  twenty  genera- 
tions in  her  veins,  and  stinted  to  a  horse  inheritor  of  all 
the  glories  of  the  turf,  to  the  days  of  its  first  and  noblest 
champions.  Still,  it  is  a  truth,  that  if  it  be  worth  the  while 
to  breed  a  beast  at  all,  it  is  worth  the  while  to  breed  a 
good  beast, — nay  I  but  the  very  best  beast,  if  one  can,  of  the 


124  HOW    TO   FEED   A   HORSE. 

race  or  family  to  which  he  belongs  ;  and  this  cannot  be  done 
unless  both  the  dam,  before  parturition,  and  the  dam  and 
foal  together,  after  the  birth  of  the  latter,  be  so  supplied 
with  food,  warmth,  and  shelter,  as  to  allow  the  little  animal 
an  ample  fund  Avhence  to  draw  his  bone,  his  muscles,  the 
development  of  his  size  and  his  blood,  and,  in  a  word,  suf- 
ficient nutriment  for  the  production  of  all  those  qualities 
which  one  would  desire  him  to  possess  when  he  shall  have 
attained  his  'maturity. 

Mares  and  foals  should,  then,  always  be  supplied,  in 
their  summer  pastures,  with  a  good,  cool,  airy  shed,  for 
shelter  against  the  sun,  or  rain  ;  in  their  winter  quarters, 
with  a  close,  warm,  but  thoroughly  clean  and  ventilated 
stable.  They  should  have  abundance  of  good,  rich,  suc- 
culent food  of  the  best  quality ;  especially  the  dam,  before 
the  birth  of  the  foal,  and  during  the  time  while  she  is  suckling 
it.  It  is  not  necessary,  but  it  is  desirable^  that  she  should  have 
oats  or  corn :  where  it  is  a  thorough-bred  mare  in  foal  to 
a  thorough-bred,  and  expected  to  produce  a  racer,  she 
should  be  cared  for  almost  as  if  she  herself  were  in  w^ork, 
and  should  have,  at  least,  her  two  feeds  daily,  before  par- 
turition ;  and,  after  the  birth  and  in  the  early  days  of  nurs- 
ing, two  good  mashes  of  steamed  oats  and  bran,  given 
moderately  warm,  in  addition  to  her  pasturage.  As  the 
foal  gains  age,  she  should  have  her  oats  regularly,  and  the 
young  thing  should  be  encouraged  to  eat  of  oats,  likewise, 
as  early  as  possible.  He  will  soon  take  to  it,  and  a  quart 
or  two  per  diem,  increased  to  a  full  peck  during  the  first 
year,  and  to  two  pecks,  added  to  his  pasturage  in  summer, 
and  his  hay,  chopped  straw,  or  feed  in  winter,  in  his  sec- 
ond year,  will  amply  repay  the  owner  in  the  quality  of 
bone  and  muscle  which  the  animal  will  form,  and  in  the 
increased  size,  beauty  and  stamina,  which  wall  be  his  char- 
acteristics when  he  is  growing  toward  maturity.     It  is  not 


HOW   TO   FEED   A   HORSE.  125 

too  much  to  say,  that  a  foal,  treated  thus,  will  be,  at  two 
years  old,  the  equal  of  any  three  year  old,  allowed  to  take 
his  chance,  without  any  food  but  that  furnished  by  his 
dam  from  her  ordinary  commons,  or  picked  up  b}^  himself, 
in  his  summer  pasture  or  winter  straw  yard. 

Scarcely  inferior  should  be  the  pains  taken  with  a  good 
half-bred  mare,  or  Canadian,  or  Norman,  in  foal  to  a  thor- 
ough-bred, and  expected  to  produce  an  offspring  of  supe- 
rior character,  as  a  trotter,  a  carriage-horse,  or  a  roadster ; 
and  we  should  clearly  and  decidedly  recommend  the  giv- 
ing of  oats,  in  small  quantities,  to  both  the  parent  and  the 
young  of  this  second  description. 

Where  ordinary  horses  are  concerned  it  must  be  a  ques- 
tion, in  the  main,  of  dollars  and  cents ;  for  it  is  clear  that,  if 
a  man  be  breeding  from  such  parents,  and  under  such  cir- 
cumstances that  he  only  expects  to  realize  a  hundred 
dollars,  more  or  less,  for  his  colt  or  filly,  at  three  years  old, 
there  will  not  be  much  margin  for  superfluous  expenditures, 
in  the  way  of  early  feed  or  nurture.  Still,  it  is  certain  that 
every  dollar  laid  out  on  the  pregnant  mare,  and  on  the 
nursing  mare  and  her  foal,  will  return  tenfold  to  the  breeder, 
in  the  real  goodness  of  the  animal. 

We  do  not  believe  that  it  is  ever  worth  the  while  to  breed 
inferior  or  second-rate  animals  of  any  kind ;  but  that, 
whatever  the  kind  be,  it  is  the  most  profitable  to  breed  the 
best  of  that  kind,  and  so  to  keep  and  care  for  it,  that  the 
creature,  when  bred,  shall  attain  its  perfect  standard  and 
full  development,  and  be,  in  itself,  the  best  attainable  speci- 
men and  standard  of  its  kind. 

This  cannot  be  done,  whether  the  animal  is  to  be  an 
Eclipse,  a  Flora  Temple,  a  clever  roadster,  a  noble  express 
teamster,  a  showy  carriage -horse,  an  officer's  charger,  or  a 
first-rate  farm  animal,  unless  it  be  well-fed  and  well  cared 
for  while  it  is  growing. 


126  HOW  TO   FEED   A  HORSE. 

jS'ow,  to  come  to  working-horses,  we  would  say,  in  the 
first  place,  that  as  a  general  rule,  especiallj  for  fast-work- 
ing horses,  a  great  deal  too  much  hay  and  too  little  grain, 
comparatively,  and,  indeed,  too  much  of  both  is  ordinarily 
given.  For  a  gentleman's  carriage-horses,  or  roadsters, 
at  ordinary  work,  in  their  own  stables,  eight  pounds,  and 
from  that  up  to  ten,  of  the  very  best,  richest  and  most 
succulent  hay  is  amply  sufficient,  with  twelve  quarts  of 
good  heavy  oats,  as  a  daily  allowance. 

They  should  be  fed  with  a  lock  of  hay  and  half  a  pail 
of  water,  the  first  thing  in  the  morning,  on  opening  the 
stable ;  and  when  the  stables  have  been  aired,  cleaned  and 
littered,  should  have,  after  being  thoroughly  gToomed, 
their  other  half-pail  of  water,  and — if  they  be  not  going 
out — ^four  quarts  of  oats ;  and  when  they  have  eaten  these 
they  may  have  about  four  or  five  pounds  of  hay  in  their 
racks,  and  be  left  dark  and  quiet.  If  they  be  going  out 
early,  they  should  have  six  quarts  of  oats  at  their  morning 
feed,  and  no  hay. 

If  they  be  standing  in  the  stable,  and  not  to  be  put  to 
work  until  afternoon,  they  should  be  again  watered,  and 
have  four  quarts  more  at  noon ;  and  when  they  return  at 
night,  should  be  cleaned,  watered,  fed  with  oats,  and  have 
the  remainder  of  their  hay  in  their  racks  at  night.  This 
will  be  found  amply  sufficient  to  keep  horses  in  good 
working  condition,  when  no  extraordinary  labor — that  is  to 
say,  not  to  exceed  from  ten  to  twenty  miles  per  diem — is 
expected  of  them,  and  neither  extraordinary  turns  of  speed 
nor  feats  of  endurance.  Half  a  bushel  of  nicely-washed 
carrots,  given,  a  few  at  a  time,  every  week,  will  be  found 
to  improve  the  coat,  to  be  particularly  beneficial  to  the 
stomach  and  wind,  and  to  be  very  grateful  to  the  animal ; 
and,  in  weather  and  in  places  where  they  can  be  easily 
provided,  a  few  handfuls  of  green  meat,  clover,  fine  mead- 


HOW   TO   FEED  A  HORSE.  127 

ow  grass,  or  maize, — long  stalks  and  leaves,  sown  broad- 
cast and  cut  young,  will  cool  tlie  blood,  give  a  kindly  al- 
terative to  tlie  system,  keep  tlie  bowels  moderately  open, 
and  please  the  appetite  of  the  animal.  They  should  not, 
however,  be  given  too  freely,  when  the  horse  is  at  hard 
work,  as  they  will,  perhaps,  produce  laxity  and  scouring. 
It  is  a  good  plan  to  give  a  good  mash  of  stewed  bran  and 
oats  once  a  week.  Saturday  evening — if  Sunday  be,  as  it 
often  is,  and  always,  except  in  cases  of  emergency,  should 
be,  a  day  of  rest — is  often  and  appropriately  set  apart  for 
this  purpose.  After  an  unusually  hard  day's  work,  such 
a  mash  is  always  both  useful  and  grateful  to  the  beast ;  and 
where  there  is  much  fatigue  and  exhaustion,  a  quart  of  ale 
may  be  added  to  the  masli  with  advantage.  Nitre  and 
drugs  of  all  khids  should  be  studiously  avoided,  and  never 
used  except  when  prescribed  as  medicine.  Kew  corn  should 
never  be  used  as  horse  feed.  It  is  emphatically  danger- 
ous ;  is  heating,  apt  to  swell  and  produce  obstruction  of  the 
bowels,  and  to  cause  colic  and  even  acute  inflammation. 
Old  corn  may  be  given,  but  sparingly  and  cautiously,  and 
never  in  a  greater  ratio  than  two  quarts  where  you  would 
give  three  of  oats.  Horses  should  never  be  fed  within  an 
hour  before  being  put  to  work,  and  then  should  be  worked 
slowly  until  the  bowels  are  fully  evacuated ;  nor  within 
two  hours,  if  it  can  be  avoided,  should  they  have  to  per- 
form sharp  work.  More  horses  have  their  winds  broken 
by  being  worked  quick  and  hard,  with  their  bellies  dis- 
tended with  hay,  grain  and  water,  than  from  all  other 
causes  combined;  and  more  are  foundered  from  being 
over-fed  while  hot,  exhausted,  and  in  a  state  of  quasi  col 
lapse ;  and  are  exposed  to  colic  and  acute  inflammation 
of  the  bowels,  from  being  freely  watered  and  subjected  to 
drafts  of  cold  air,  showers  of  rain,  or  being  injudiciously 
bathed  or  washed,  after  sharp  work,  when  their  stomachs 


128  HOW   TO   FEED  A   HOESE. 

are  empty,  and  themselves  craving  a  good  dressing  and  a 
warm  masli,  tlian  one  would  readily  imagine. 

The  faster  and  severer  the  work  which  a  horse  is  ex- 
pected to  perform,  tlie  sounder,  more  nutritious  and  more 
abundant  should  be  bis  food.  His  oats  should  be  increased 
and  his  hay  diminished.  For  a  fast  trotter,  in  constant 
work,  and  expected  to  perform  considerable  distances  in 
good  time,  six  pounds  of  hay  will  be  amply  suf&cient — 
since  dry  hay,  indisputably,  is  injurious  to  the  wind  ;  but 
the  oats  may  be  increased  to  fourteen,  or  sixteen  quarts, 
or,  in  fact,  to  as  much  as  the  animal  will  eat.  The  same 
may  be  said  of  a  hunter,  of  a  gentleman's  roadster  (when 
the  master  is  in  the  habit  of  calling  on  liim  to  do  long 
distances  regularly,  at  a  good  rate  of  speed)  and,  in  short, 
of  all  horses,  which  it  is  more  or  less  necessary  to  force, 
to  keep  in  an  unnatural  state,  for  tlie  performance  of  un- 
natural feats.  The  training  of  racers  and  trotters  is  so 
distinctly  a  science,  apart  and  of  itself,  and  is  one  limited 
to  so  small  a  class  of  persons,  comparatively  speaking,  and 
consequently  possessed  of  so  little  general  interest,  that  it 
will  not  be  worth  the  while  to  speak  of  it  in  detail  at  pres- 
ent. It  consists,  of  course,  in  getting  the  horse  for  a 
short  time,  into  the  highest  possible  state  of  condition; 
hardness  of  flesh,  excitement  of  spirits,  bloom  of  coat, 
speed  of  foot  and  depth  of  wind,  which  is  effected  by  com- 
bining the  most  nutritious  and  stimulating  system  of  feed- 
ing with  such  constant  and  severe  exercise,  and  such  medical 
treatment  as,  while  exciting  and  raising  every  power  of 
the  animal  to  the  utmost,  prevents  surfeit,  prevents  fever, 
and,  for  the  time,  preserves  an  equilibrium,  which,  how- 
ever, at  best,  is  only  temporary,  and  cannot  possibly  be 
prolonged  ad  infinitum.  A  horse  could  no  more  be  kept 
always  in  full  training  than  he  could  always  be  ridden  at 
full  gallop.     It  is  an  abnormal  condition ;  and,  while  it 


HOW   TO    FEED   A    HORSE.  129 

develops  the  utmost  powers  of  the  creature,  requires  tuc 
greatest  skill  and  the  most  constant  attention  on  the  part 
of  the  person  who  undertakes  to  produce  it. 

Even  with  horses  in  full  training,  or  in  that  half  training 
which  is  necessarily  aimed  at  by  those  \\ho  keep  jjleasure 
horses  for  fast,  continual  and  long  protracted  work,  the  oc- 
casional exhibition  of  carrots  and  green  meat,  in  small 
quantities,  is  of  great  advantage.  It  prevents  the  animals 
from  becoming  hide-bound,  it  keeps  their  blood  cool,  and 
it  affords  an  agreeable  change  to  their  over-stimulated  ap- 
petites, often  partially  fevered  from  excess  of  grain  feeding. 
Mashes  are  also  highly  valuable ;  and  it  is  always  desirable 
to  give  them,  after  hard  work,  and  when  too  hard  wo]?k  is 
not  likely  to  ensue  on  the  following  day.  Moistening  the 
hay  and  oats  is  not  a  bad  practice,  and  is  especially  bene- 
ficial to  the  wind.  A  small  quantity  of  salt  may  be  occa- 
sionally given  to  advantage  in  the  oats ;  horses  are  fond  of 
it,  and  will  often  take  their  feed  greedily  if  a  little  is  inter- 
mixed with  it,  when  they  would  otherwise  refuse  it  alto- 
gether. Nitre  should  never  be  given  in  the  food,  though 
bad  grooms  are  extremely  fond  of  using  it,  as  a  nostrum 
for  the  production  of  fine  coats.  It  is  a  severe  diuretic, 
and  injuriously  drains  the  stamina  and  strength  of  any 
horse  to  which  it  is  supplied  as  an  article  of  food  or  a  con- 
diment, although  it  is  valuable  as  a  medicine. 

It  rests  only  to  say,  that  water,  although  it  should  never 
be  given  to  a  horse  in  large  quantities  shortly  before  being 
put  to  work  ;  or  at  all,  on  his  coming  off  work,  while  hot ; 
still  less,  while  jaded  or  exhausted, — should  be  ordinarily 
furnished  to  him  often,  and  in  abundance.  Not  so  much 
in  large  draughts  at  a  time,  which  improperly  distend  the 
stomach,  as  in  small  quantities,  at  frequently-recurring  in- 
tervals. Many  persons  advocate  the  plan  of  keeping  water 
constantly  within  reach  of  the  horse,  on  the  ground  that  he 
6* 


130  HOW   TO   FEED   A  HORSE. 

actually  drinks  less,  on  the  whole,  when  he  has  it  ever  be- 
fore him ;  and  that  from  never  becoming  intensely  thirsty,  he 
is  never  tempted  to  drink  to  excess ;  and  the  argument  is 
certainly  good.  The  difficulty  lies  in  this,  that  the  horse  is 
particularly  delicate  about  what  he  drinks,  and  cannot  en- 
dure tepid,  stale,  or  impure  water;  and  that,  if  water  be 
supplied  constantly,  in  the  stable,  with  ninety-nine  grooms 
out  of  a  hundred,  it  will  be  allowed  to  stand  in  the 
vessel,  week  in  and  week  out,  occasionally  filled  up,  but 
never  drawn  off  or  thoroughly  cleansed  until  it  is  full  of 
impurities  of  all  kinds  impregnated  with  ammonia  from 
the  atmosphere,  and  alike  unfit  and  unwholesome  for  the 
animal  to  drink. 

When  metallic  mangers  can  be  contrived,  having  a  sup- 
ply pipe  feeding  them  with  constantly  running,  aerated 
water,  and  an  escape  pipe,  which,  while  they  shall  be 
constantly  full,  shall  never  allow  them  to  overflow,  no 
plan  can  be  adopted  equal  to  this — as  the  water,  beside 
supplying  the  animals  with  their  beverage,  will  have  an 
admirable  effect  in  purifying,  and  cooling  the  heated  at- 
mosphere of  the  stables ;  but,  otherwise,  it  will  be  hardly 
practicable,  or  desirable,  to  keep  water  constantly  before 
horses  in  their  stalls  or  boxes. 

When  horses  are  working  on  the  road,  they  should  be 
watered,  cleaned  and  fed,  very  early,  at  least  two  hours 
before  it  is  intended  to  start  them;  they  should  have 
merely  a  lock  of  hay,  to  play  with,  while  being  dressed, 
and  should  be  then  fed  with  full  six  quarts  of  oats.  If 
they  be,  at  all,  delicate  feeders,  it  will  often  succeed  to 
offer  them  two  quarts  at  a  time,  and,  when  that  is  finished, 
to  refill  the  mangers.  Sometimes,  by  partially  harness- 
ing a  horse,  particularly  if  he  be  a  cunning  old  stager,  he 
will  be  inclined  to  go  to  work  as  hard  at  his  feed  as  he 
can,  for  fear  of  losing  what  is  set  before  him.     For  the 


HOW   TO   FEED   A  HORSE.  131 

first  six  or  eight  miles  the  horse  should  be  driven  gently, 
until  he  has  unloaded  his  bowels,  when  his  pace  may  be 
increased,  until  he  be  within  a  few  miles'  distance  of  his 
mid-day  halting  and  feeding-place,  when  he  should  be 
pulled  up,  so  as  to  allow  him  to  come  in  cool.  Horses  should 
be  watered  often,  when  at  work,  say  once  in  every  eight 
or  ten  miles ;  but  from  a  few  swallows  to  the  extent  of 
half  a  bucket,  at  the  most,  is  sufficient.  This  will  not  hurt 
them,  even  if  they  be  hot,  provided  they  be  not  exhausted, 
and  provided  they  be  kept  standing  but  a  little  while,  and 
be  instantly  put  to  their  work,  again,  at  a  moderate  pace. 
It  is  an  excellant  plan  to  accustom  them  to  drink  water, 
with  a  few  handfuls  of  Indian  meal,  and  a  little  salt  stirred 
into  it,  as  this  not  only  prevents  the  possibility  of  a 
chill,  but  affords,  in  some  degree,  the  support  of  a  solid 
meal.  Some  horses  will  drink  ale  or  porter,  freely ;  all 
horses  may  be  taught  to  do  so,  by  sweetening  it  with 
brown  sugar.  It  is  a  very  useful  and  desirable  quality, 
in  a  horse.  It  is  astonishing  how  much  an  exhausted 
animal  is  sometimes  reinvigorated,  on  a  hot  day,  by  a 
draught  of  ale,  and  if  he  will — as  we  have  seen  many  do — 
eat  a  rye  loaf  cut  in  pieces  and  steeped  in  ale  or  porter,  it 
will  do  him  more  good  than  six  quarts  of  oats. 

The  mid-day  halt  of  a  horse  should  be  long  enough  to 
allow  of  his  being  thoroughly  rested  and  cleaned,  before 
being  fed ;  he  should  have,  as  before,  a  lock  of  hay  to 
play  with,  while  cleaning ;  be  watered  sparingly,  and  then 
be  fed  with  four  quarts,  and  have  the  rest  of  his  water 
shortly  before  starting. 

In  travelling  a  journey,  it  is  desirable  to  start  as  early 
as  possible  in  the  morning,  and  to  accomplish  the  most  of 
the  days'  journey  before  halting  to  bait.  In  summer  one 
would  start  at  four  o'clock,  travel  till  ten  or  eleven,  halt 
and  bait  until  five,  and  drive  on  until  nine  or  ten;    at 


132  HOW   TO   FEED   A   HORSE. 

this  rate  one  will  do  his  fifty  miles  for  a  few  days,  or  his 
forty,  day  in  and  day  out,  for  a  month — as  the  writer  has 
done  more  than  once,  without  trouble  or  distress  to  his 
team. 

On  getting  to  the  journey's  end,  at  night,  if  very  much 
exhausted,  the  horses  should  be  plentifully  supplied,  as 
quickly  as  they  can  have  it,  with  tepid  gruel,  if  they  will 
drink  it, — the  thicker  the  better ;  they  should  be  walked 
about  until  cool,  be  thoroughly  cleaned,  having  a  bit  of 
hay  to  amuse  themselves  with,  nicely  clothed,  and  their  legs 
bandaged.  Then  they  should  have  half  a  pail  of  water, 
and  six  quarts  of  oats ;  and,  after  giving  them  the  second 
half  pail,  their  racks  should  be  furnished  with  six  or 
eight  pounds  of  good  hay,  and  they  should  be  left  for  the 
night.  Give  them  good  beds,  and  they  will  be  as  fresh  as 
birds,  and  ready  for  any  work  they  may  be  required  to 
perform,  to-morrow.  Far  otherwise,  if  you  feed  them 
lightly,  at  night  and  in  the  morning,  and  stop  them  twice, 
or  more  during  their  working  hours,  to  fill  their  bellies 
with  a  mass  of  hay  and  oats,  and  then  work  them,  with 
their  stomachs  distended,  and  their  bowels  stuffed  with 
crude  or  undigested  food,  from  which  they  have  derived 
no  real  nutriment. 

With  regard  to  mere  farm-horses,  it  is,  usually,  the  habit 
to  feed  them  entirely  on  hay,  or  cut  straw,  with  now  and 
then  a  mash,  giving  them  little,  or  no  oats,  or  corn.  It  is 
certain,  how'ever,  that  this  is  a  mistake.  That  the  value 
of  the  work  which  the.  horse  can  do,  and  of  the  horse 
himself,  arising  from  his  improved  condition  and  increased 
endurance,  will  be  materially  raised,  while  the  actual  cost 
of  his  keep  will  not  be  very  materially  increased  by  the 
diminution  of  the  quantity  of  the  cheaper  and  less  nutri- 
tious food  given  to  him,  and  the  addition  of  a  smaller  or 
larger  portion  of  the  more  nutritive  grain,  which  furnished 


HOW    TO   FEED   A   HOKSE.  183 

stamina  and  strength,  in  a  degree  greatly  in  excess  of  its 
own  increased  value,  may  be  assumed  as  facts. 

Slow  working  horses  do  not,  of  course,  require  so  much 
nutriment  of  a  high  quality,  as  those  which  are  called  on 
to  do  quick  work  and  perform  long  distances;  but,  as  a 
rule,  all  animals,  which  have  to  do  hard  work,  and  much 
of  it,  must  necessarily  be  so  kept  as  to  have  hard  flesh ; 
and  they  cannot  be  so  kept,  unless  they  are  fed  on  hard 
grain. 

There  is,  perhaps,  under  the  head  of  feeding,  one  more 
point,  which  should  be  considered.  It  is  that  of  summer- 
ing horses,  which  have  been  kept  up  at  hard  work,  in  hot 
stables  and  on  highly  stimulating  food,  for  a  year  or  more ; 
and  whose  feet  and  legs  have  become  stale,  and  their  whole 
systems  more  or  less  fevered,  so  that  it  is  desirable  to  alter 
their  mode  of  life,  for  a  time ;  to  give  them  more  air, 
cooler  lodgings,  and  a  more  natural  and  less  exciting  diet. 
It  was,  formerly,  usual  to  prepare  such  horses  for  grass, 
by  three  regular  doses  of  medicine,  and  then  to  turn  them 
out,  upon  some  grass  land,  to  fare  as  they  might  best,  until 
the  summer  time  should  be  over,  when  they  are  to  be 
taken  up  again,  physiced,  as  before,  and  got  gradually 
into  condition,  by  feeding  and  exercise — -a  process  which 
could  not,  with  the  very  best  grooms,  be  accomplished 
under  three  or  four  months,  perhaps  not  in  double  the  time. 

The  objections  to  this  plan  are,  first,  the  length  of  time, 
which  is  required  before  the  horse,  which  has  by  this 
system  been  thrown  wholly  out  of  condition,  can  be  re- 
cuperated. Secondly,  the  great  probability  of  his  coming 
up  lame  from  galloping,  gambolling  and  skylarking  with 
his  co-mates,  on  the  pastures,  which  under  our  American 
sunshine  are  usually  burned  as  hard  and  nearly  as  brown 
as  a  turnpike  road  in  July.  Thirdly,  the  poorness  and 
innutricious  quality  of  the  arid,  dried  up  grass  at  this  period. 


134  HOW  TO  fp:ed  a  horse. 

Fourtlily,  the  want  of  shade  and  shelter  on  most  horse 
pastures.  Fifthly,  the  plague  of  flies  and  mosquitoes, 
which  are  almost  sufficient  to  torture  a  thin-skinned  ani- 
mal out  of  his  life ;  and  sixthly  and  lastly,  the  result  of 
the  whole  is,  nine  times  out  of  ten,  that  the  animal  comes 
up  poorer  th^n  he  was  when  he  went  out,  sun-bleached, 
thm,  and  dry  in  his  coat;  his  hair  staring;  his  ribs  bare; 
in  all  respects  a  failure,  unimproved  if  not  actually  deteri- 
orated by  his  summer's  run  at  grass. 

For  this,  it  has  been  lately  attempted,  we  may  say  now 
established,  with  perfect  success,  to  keep  the  horse  par- 
tially up,  in  a  large,  loose  box,  if  possible,  adjoining  and 
opening  to  a  soft,  moist,  well-sheltered  paddock ;  to  take 
off  his  shoes,  stuff  his  feet  with  a  cooling  paste  of  tar, 
tallow,  clay,  and  cow-dung ;  to  reduce  his  sj^stem,  by  ad- 
ministering two  or  three  mild  doses  of  medicine,  not  to 
exceed  four  drachms  each  of  Barbadoes  aloes,  the  animal 
having  been  well  prepared  for  them  by  assiduous  mashing ; 
and  then  to  feed  him  regularly  and  plentifully  with  rich, 
moist,  succulent,  green  meat,  cut  for  him  fresh  every  day, 
not  forgetting  a  dessert  of  carrots,  and  a  standing  dish  of 
at  least  six  quarts  of  oats  jper  diem^  administered  at  two 
feeds.  If  the  horse  have  the  advantage  of  a  good  pad- 
dock, wherein  he  can  run,  he  will  not  so  much  need 
other  exercise;  but,  at  all  events,  he  will  be  better  for 
being  walked  out,  or  trotted  gently,  daily,  on  soft  ground. 
If  there  be  no  paddock  or  natural  exercising  ground,  the 
walking  exercise  will  be  absolutely  necessary,  and  it  may 
be  extended  advantageously  to  four  hours  a  day,  in  two 
instalments  of  two  hours  each,  during  one  of  which  he 
should  be  walked  only,  and  in  the  other  trotted  to  a  little 
livelier  and  faster  motion. 

The  advantage  of  this  method  is  manifold.  The  animal 
is  not  so  wholly  depleted  and  reduced ;  he  is  not  exposed 


HOW   TO   FEED   A   HOKSE.  135 

to  hot  runs,  wet  niglits,  or  extraordinary  changes  of  tem- 
perature ;  he  is  not  tormented  by  flies ;  he  has  no  oppor- 
tunity of  galloping  his  flesh  ofi*  his  bones,  or  battering  his 
feet  to  pieces,  on  the  hard  ground.  In  short,  he  has  all 
the  advantages  and  none  of  the  drawbacks  arising  from 
a  run  at  grass;  and,  when  the  time  comes  when  he  is 
agaiu  to  be  brought  into  condition,  it  can  be  done  gradu- 
ally and  almost  imperceptibly  by  continually  decreasing 
the  supply  of  green  meat,  and  increasing  that  of  grain, 
while  adding  more  exercise,  putting  on  more  clothing, 
and  keeping  the  stable  warmer,  until  the  animal  is  brought 
back  into  perfect  condition. 

THE   MANAGEMENT   OF    OMNIBUS    HORSES   IN  NEW   YORK 

CITY. 

There  is  no  place  in  this  country  where  so  many  horses 
are  kept  at  regular  work,  and  under  circumstances  which 
will  admit  of  systematic  feeding  and  management,  or 
where  so  good  an  opportunity  for  valuable  experimenting 
is  afforded,  as  in  the  Omnibus  and  Eailroad  stables  of  New 
York  city. 

At  the  request  of  the  Farmers'  Club  of  the  American 
Institute,  one  of  its  members  made  a  careful  examination 
of  the  practice  in  these  stables,  the  result  of  which  exam- 
ination is  given  below.* 

There  is  no  farmer  who  keeps  a  horse  who  will  not  be 
well  repaid  for  a  close  study  of  this  paper,  in  which  he 
will  doubtless  find  reasons  for  modifying  his  own  practice, 
and  making  it  to  conform  more  or  less  to  this  system, 
which,  as  its  result  shows  (these  horses  being  notoriously 
in  good  condition,  considering  the  severe  labor  which  they 
often  perform),  is  the  best  for  horses  performing  hard  work 
at  a  moderate  pace. 

*  Transactions  of  the  American  Institute  for  1855,  p.  466. 


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10 

14 

2 

211 

17 

10 

7 

2 

.... 

N.  Y.  Consol'd.  Stage  Co. 

335 

21^ 

8 

17 

2.9 

2^ 

Wash'n  Stables,  6   livery 

horses 

.... 

.... 

12 

7r 

.... 

.... 

''It  is  the  object  of  the  stage  proprietors  to  get  all  the 
work  out  of  their  teams  possible,  without  injury  to  the 
animals.  Where  the  routes  are  shorter,  the  horses  conse- 
quently make  more  trips,  so  that  the  different  amounts 
and  proportions  of  food  consumed  are  not  so  apparent  when 
the  comparison  is  made  between  the  different  lines,  as 
when  it  is  made  also  with  the  railroad  and  livery  horses. 
The  stage  horses  consume  most,  and  the  livery  horses  least. 

"  The  stage  horses  are  fed  on  cut  hay  and  corn  meal  wet, 
and  mixed  in  the  proportion  of  about  one  lb.  of  hay  to  two 
lbs.  of  meal,  a  ratio  adopted  rather  for  mechanical  than  phy- 
siological reasons,  as  this  is  all  the  meal  that  can  be  made 
to  adhere  to  the  hay.  The  animals  eat  this  mixture  from 
a  deep  manger.  The  New  Yoik  Consolidated  Stage  Com- 
pany use  a  very  small  quantity  of  salt.  They  think  it 
causes  horses  to  urinate  too  freely.  They  find  horses  do 
not  eat  so  much  when  worked  too  hard.  The  large  horses 
eat  more  than  the  small  ones.  Prefer  a  horse  of  1,000  to 
1,100  pounds  weight.  If  too  small,  they  get  poor,  and 
cannot  draw  a  stage ;  if  too  large,  they  ruin  their  feet,  and 
their   shoulders   grow   stiff  and   shrink.     The   principal 

<>  And  6  quarts  oats  at  noon. 


HOW   TO   FEED   A   HOEv^S.  137 

objection  to  large  liorses  is  not  so  mucli  the  increased 
amount  of  food  required,  as  tlie  fact  that  they  are  soon  used 
np  bj  wear.  They  would  prefer  for  feed  a  mixture  of  half 
corn  and  half  oats,  if  it  were  not  more  expensive.  Horses 
do  not  keep  fat  so  well  on  oats  alone,  if  at  hard  labor,  as 
on  corn  meal,  or  a  mixture"  of  the  two. 

^"  Straw  is  best  for  bedding.  If  salt  hay  is  used,  horses 
eat  it,  as  not  more  than  a  bag  of  200  pounds  of  salt  is  used 
in  three  months.  Glauber  salt  is  allowed  occasionally  as 
a  laxative  in  the  spring  of  the  year,  and  the  animals  eat  it 
voKiciously.  If  corn  is  too  new,  it  is  mixed  with  an  equal 
weight  of  rye  bran,  which  prevents  scouring.  Jersey  yel- 
low corn  is  best,  and  horses  like  it  best.  The  hay  is  all 
cut,  mixed  with  meal,  and  fed  moist.  No  difference  is 
made  between  day  and  night  work.  The  travel  is  contin. 
uous,  except  in  warm  weather,  when  it  is  sometimes 
divided,  and  an  interval  of  rest  allowed.  In  cold  weather 
the  horses  are  watered  four  times  a  day  in  the  stable^  and 
not  at  all  on  the  road.  In  warm  weather,  four  times  a 
day  in  the  stables,  and  are  allowed  a  sip  on  the  middle  of 
the  route. 

"  The  amount  that  the  company  exact  from  each  horse  is 
all  that  he  can  do.  In  the  worst  of  the  traveling  they  fed 
450  bags  per  week  of  meal,  of  100  pounds  each.  They  now 
feed  400.  The  horses  are  not  allowed  to  drink  when  warm. 
If  allowed  to  do  so,  it  founders  them.  In  warm  weather  a 
bed  of  sawd-ust  is  prepared  for  them  to  roll  in.  Number  of 
horses,  335. .  Speed  varies,  but  is  about  four  miles  an 
hour.  Horses  eat  more  in  cold  weather  than  in  warm, 
but  the  difference  cannot  be  exactly  determined." 
From  this  Keport  we  deduce  the  following  hints : 
1.  It  is  possible  for  horses  to  be  kept  in  good  condition, 
on  severe  work,  when  fed  on  cut  hay  and  corn  meal,  mth- 
out  oats. 


138  HOW  TO   FEED  A  HORSE. 

2.  An  admixture  of  oats  in  tlie  feed  would  be  advan- 
tageous, when  economy  is  not  very  closely  studied:  pro- 
bably it  is  always  better  to  use  tliem  in  the  country,  where 
horses  are  expected  to  last  longer  than  on  hard  pavements. 

8.  Ten  pounds  of  hay  per  day  is  a  sufficient  allowance 
even  for  working-horses. 

4.  Eye  bran,  mixed  witli  the  food,  will  prevent  scouring. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

HOW   TO    STABLE   AND    GROOM   A   HORSE, 

REQUISITES   OF   A   GK)OD   STABLE  — THE    ECONOMY   OV  PROPER  ARRANGEMENTS 
— VENTILATION— GROOMING— ITS     NECESSITY    FOR    ALL     DESCRIPTIONS     OF 

HORSES — HOW  PERFORMED —CLOTHING TREATMENT   OF   THE   HORSE  WHEN 

BROUGHT   IN   FROM   WORK. 

We  now  propose  to  give  a  few  brief  and  comprehensive 
rules  as  to  the  mode  of  stabling  and  grooming  a  horse, 
premising,  always,  that  both  these  important  branches  of 
horse  economy  are,  for  the  most  part,  utterly  misunder- 
stood and  neglected  in  the  United  States,  and  that,  where 
they  are  so,  it  is  utterly  impossible  that  the  animals  can  be 
in  a  state  of  health,  and  comfort  to  themselves,  or  in  a  con- 
dition to  do  good  service  to  their  owners. 

In  a  climate  so  uncertain,  changeful,  and  in  which  the 
extremes  of  heat  and  cold  lie  so  far  apart  as  in  this  coun- 
try, the  question  of  stabling  is  one  of  paramount  im- 
portance. The  stable,  to  be  of  real  utility,  must  be  per- 
fectly cool,  airy,  and  pervious  to  the  atmosphere  in 
summer ;  perfectly  close,  warm,  and  free  from  all  drafts 
of  external  air,  except  in  so  far  as  shall  be  needed  for  ven- 
tilation, in  winter;  perfectly  ventilated,  so  as  to  be  pure, 
and  free  from  ill  odors,  ammoniacal  vapors  and  the  like, 
arising  from  the  urine  and  excrement  of  the  animals  at  all 
times ;  perfectly  dry  under  foot  and  well  drained,  since 
nothing  is  more  injurious  to  the  horse  than  to  stand  up  to 
his  heels  in  wet  litter,  decomposed  vegetable  matter,  his 
own  ordure,  and  slops  of  all  kinds ;  and  more  than  one 
acute  and  dangerous  disease, — of  which  we  shall  only  here 
specify  the  "scratches,"  as  it  is  commonly  termed  in  America, 

(139) 


140  HOW   TO   STABLE 

or  ''grease,"  as  one  oi  the  most  baneful,  as  it  is  the  most 
disgraceful  to  the  groom  and  stable-master, — has  its  origin. 
Lastly,  it  should  be  perfectly  well  lighted,  as  well  as  thor- 
oughly aired,  since  it  is  not  only  cruel  to  animals,  which 
are  of  a  gay,  cheerful  and  sociable  nature,  to  keep  them 
constantly  in  the  dark,  and  not  only  depresses  their  spir- 
its, and  thus  injures  tneir  animal  health,  but  it  is  a  frequent 
cause  of  blindness.  To  keep  an  animal  continually  in  al- 
most total  darkness,  as  is  the  case  in  many  city  stables  and 
in  most  country  farming  stables,  occasionally  bringing  him 
out  to  do  his  work,  with  no  protection  to  his  eyes,  in  the 
full  glare  and  blaze  of  an  American  summer  or  winter, 
sunlight,  must  naturally  and  necessarily  tend  to  produce 
blindness. 

It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that,  on  nine-tenths  of  the  farm- 
steads of  America,  excepting  always  those  of  a  few  model 
farmSj  and  what  may  be  called  show  agricultural  establish- 
ments, the  property  of  wealthy  amateurs,  the  stables  are  a 
disgrace  to  common  sense  and  common  humanity ;  and 
for  the  most  part  are  unfit  to  be  used  as  pig-styes,  much 
less  for  the  dwelling  of  so  noble,  so  intelligent,  so  cleanl}^ 
an  animal,  and  one  so  acutely  sensitive  to  all  impurities  of 
air,  food  or  water,  as  the  horse. 

In  the  first  place,  a  stable  should  never  be  under  ground, 
wholly  or  in  part ;  in  the  second,  it  should  be,  invariably, 
undcrdrained,  with  a  sufiicient  fall  to  the  drains,  and  with 
a  grating,  or  perforated  slate  or  flag-stone  in  the  middle  of 
each  stall,  to  which  the  floor,  of  whatever  substance  it  is 
composed,  should  descend  on  all  sides,  with  a  grade  not  to 
exceed  an  inch  to  the  yard.  The  expense  of  this  work  may 
seein,  to  an  unthrifty  and  thoughtless  farmer,  useless  and  su- 
pererogatory ;  but,  supposing  him  to  work  three  or  more 
horses  of  the  first  cost  value  of  $100  to  $150  each,  and  sup- 
.  posing  that  these  horses  last  him  twice  as  long,  are  not  half 


AND   GROOM   A   HORSE.  141 

SO  often  ailing,  and  do  bini  twice  as  much  good  work  while 
they  do  last, — as  it  is  undoubtedly  the  case  that  they  will 
do,  in  wholesome  and  well-constructed  stables.-he  willeasil}^ 
find,  at  the  end  of  fifteen  or  twenty  years,  that  by  the  first 
outlay  of  a  couple  of  hundred  dolJars  at  the  outside,  in 
making  his  stable  dry.  airj^,  warm  and  light,  he  will  have 
economized  many  hundreds,  if  not  man}^  thousands.  And 
this  will  easily  appear  from  a  very  slight  calculation  of 
the  losses  which  will  arise  from  the  deterioration  of  his 
farm  stock,  their  falling  lame,  requiring  farrier's  advice, 
doing  but  half  work  half  the  time,  ond  finally  having  to 
be  rejected  as  useless,  sold  at  half  price  and  replaced  at 
full  price,  after  three  or  four  years,  by  others  which  will 
unavoidably  follow  the  same  course ;  whereas  if  properly 
lodged  and  cared  for,  the  first  animals,  being  sound  and 
hearty  at  the  commencement,  might  have  done  good  slow 
farm-work  for  ten,  twelve,  or  even  fifteen  years,  as  well  as 
not ;  and  if  mares,  might  have  brought  him  half-a-dozen 
good  serviceable  colts,  or  fillies,  which  would  owe  mu.ch 
of  their  value  to  the  state  of  their  dam's  health,  arising 
from  her  food  and  stabling,  without  materially  detracting 
from  her  service  on  the  farm.  The  material  of  the  stable 
floor  should  not  be  the  natural  soil,  lor  that  speedily  be- 
comes saturated  with  moisture,  and  degenerates  into  a 
slough.  It  should  not,  we  think,  be  of  wood,  for  wood 
absorbs  the  urine,  becomes  impregnated  with  ammonia, 
and  is  heating  to  the  feet.  Yery  hard  beaten  clay  may  an- 
swer, but  a  pavement  of  small  cobble-stones,  neatly  laid, 
with  such  a  fall  as  is  mentioned,  in  clay  and  sand,  or,  Avhat 
is  better,  of  hard  bricks  laid  in  cement,  and  set  edgewise, 
is  the  best  stable  floor  with  which  we  are  acquainted. 

The  stable  should  never  be  less  than  eight  or  nine,  but 
had  better  be  ten  or  twelve  feet  high  from  the  floor  to  the 
rafters.     The  door  should  be  so  placed  that  when  open, 


142  HOW   TO   STABLE 

the  air  shall  not  blow  full  on  the  horses ;  and  it  is  well  to 
have  it  sawn  in  two  halves,  horizontally,  in  order  to  allow 
the  upper  half  to  stand  open  in  summer,  for  the  admission 
of  fresh  air. 

The  windows  which  should  be  large  as  in  a  modern 
dwelling-house,  and  as  numerous  in  proportion  to  the  size 
of  the  room,  should  be  opposite  to  one  another,  so  as  to 
allow  a  free  draught  of  air  in  summer,  but  they  should 
never  open  at  the  bottom  nearer  to  the  ground  than  at 
a  full  distance  of  six  feet,  so  that  the  air  ma}^  not  blow  on 
the  horses,  but  circulate  above  their  backs.  The  stalls 
should  not  be  less  than  five,  but  had  better  be  six  feet  wide, 
and  nine  feet  deep  ;  and  the  stable  should  not  be  less  than 
fifteen,  or  better,  seventeen  feet,  from  the  head  of  the  stall 
to  the  back  wall.  If  hay  rooms  or  feed  rooms  be  placed 
above  the  stables,  the  roof  should  be  of  solid,  permanent 
plank,  well  joined  and  under-ceiled,  and  with  good  trap- 
doors to  the  apertures  by  which  the  hay  is  thrown  into  the 
cribs.  Otherwise  the  ammoniacal  vapors  will  certainly 
arise,  taint  the  food,  and  render  it  unfit  for  eating. 

Lastly,  the  stables  must  be  ventilated  by  a  complete  and 
permanent  system,  which,  by  the  way,  is  neither  difficult 
nor  expensive.  This  can  be  done  in  two  ways, — either  a 
single  shaft,  of  a  square  of  two  feet  on  each  side,  may  be 
carried  up  through  the  loft  to  the  roof,  made  of  well -join  ted 
boards,  and  there  fitted  with  a  ventilator  of  the  same  size ; 
or,  a  central  shaft  equal  in  space  to  the  square  of  two  feet, 
■jor  every  horse  in  the  stable,  may  be  carried  up  in  the 
same  manner,  and  fitted  with  a  grand  central  ventilator,  of 
large  dimensions,  through  which  all  the  heated  air  will  rise, 
while  by  the  use  either  of  Janes  &  Beebe's  patent  valves,  or 
of  some  other  suitable  arrangement,  no  cold  air  can  possi- 
bly descend.  To  this  must  be  added  a  plan  for  the  regular 
admission  of  cold  air,  at  proper  places,  for  the  supply  of 
[941 


AND   GKOOM   A   HORSE.  143 

the  horses  with  a  suitable  quantity  of  fresh  oxygenated  air 
for  the  purposes  of  respiration.  This  is  easily  done  and  at 
very  small  cost,  while  the  stable  is  in  process  of  erection. 
The  best  plan  is  to  ran  either  a  tin  tube,  or  a  wooden  box 
pipe,  of  the  capacity  of  one  square  foot,  through  the  whole 
length  of  the  head  wall  at  the  height  of  the  horses'  nostrils, 
say  four  feet  from  the  ground,  open  to  the  exterior  air  at 
both  ends,  but  protected  from  the  entrance  of  vermin 
by  a  guard  of  coarse,  open  wire  gauze.  From  this  pipe, 
there  should  be  bored  diagonally  upward,  through  the 
boarding  of  the  stall,  six  auger  holes,  each  of  one  square 
inch  space,  into  each  stall.  This  will  afford  to  each  horse 
an  ample  supply  of  pure,  fresh  air,  which,  as  it  becomes 
heated  and  impure,  will  arise,  pass  off  by  the  ventilator,  and 
be  succeeded  by  a  constant  stream  of  reinvigorating,  vital 
atmosphere,  preserving  both  the  temperature  and  the  odor 
of  the  stables  even,  agreeable  and  healthful,  and  adding 
more  of  life  and  health  to  each  animal  that  one  could  im- 
agine possible,  without  an  examination  of  the  subject.  The 
whole  of  this  system  of  ventilation  may  be  added  to  a  new 
stable,  or  introduced  into  an  old  one  remodelled,  at  a  very 
small  price.  In  fact,  the  paving,  heightening,  draining  and 
adapting  proper  windows,  doors  and  ventilators  to  an  old 
stable,  if  so  situated  as  to  be  capable  of  improvement,  or 
the  introducing  all  these  as  additions,  into  a  new  one,  the 
site  of  which  can  be  selected  with  a  view  to  them,  will  not. 
with  reasonable  economy,  by  any  possibility  exceed  a  couple 
of  hundred  dollars  for  a  stable  capable  of  containing  from 
four  to  six  horses ;  and  undeniably,  the  owner  of  horses 
Avho  will  try  it  will  find  that,  at  the  end  of  twenty  years 
of  horse-keeping,  he  will  be  an  actual  gainer  of  twenty 
times  two  hundred  dollars.  We  will  here  add,  that  for 
country  stables  there  is  no  better  than  a  good,  framed  build- 
ing, rather    loosely  weather-boarded  externally,  lined  at 


144  KOW    TO    STABLE 

the  distance  of  nine  inches,  or,  better,  one  foot,  with  well 
grooved  and  tongued  inch  boards,  or  inch  and  a  quarter 
planks, — ^liaving  the  intermediate  space  filled  with  tan  bark. 
This  will  preserve  an  equal  temperature  through  the  whole 
year,  and  the  stable  will  always  be  cool  in  summer  and 
warm  in  winter.  If  external  sliding  shutters  be  appended 
to  the  windows,  contrived  to  open  and  shut  by  means  of  a 
cord  and  pulley,  and  if  fly-nets  of  coarse  gauze  be  added  in 
summer,  to  exclude  the  winged  pest?,  which  are  such  tor- 
ments to  horse-flesh,  the  expense  will  not  be  one  of  many 
dollars,  and  will  add  hundreds  of  dollars  worth  to  the  com- 
fort of  the  horses.  We  will  only  add  that  the  new  construc- 
tion of  con  Crete  moulded  walls  is  excellently  well  adapted  for 
country  stables,  and  will,  more  easil}^  than  any  other  form, 
admit  the  introduction  of  air  pipes,  as  described  above. 

And  now,  the  question  of  stabling  disposed  of,  we  pass 
to  that  of  grooming  and  clothing,  which  is  the  next  in  im- 
portance, and  scarcely  secondary  to  those  of  food  and  sta- 
bling, as  regards  the  health  and  comfort  of  the  horse,  and, 
what  is  the  same  thing,  the  true  interest  of  his  owner. 

Grooming.  "  Of  this,"  says  Mr.  Youatt,  "  much  need 
not  be  said  to  the  agriculturist ;  since  custom,  and  appar- 
ently without  ill  effect,  has  allotted  so  little  of  the  comb 
and  brush  to  the  farmer's  horse.  The  animal  that  is  worked 
all  day  and  turned  out  at  night,  requires  little  more  to  be 
done  to  him  than  to  have  the  dirt  brushed  off  his  limbs. 
Eegular  grooming,  by  rendering  his  skin  more  sensible  to 
the  alteration  of  temperature  and  the  inclemency  of  the 
weather,  would  be  prejudicial.  The  horse  that  is  altogether 
turned  out  needs  no  grooming.  The  dandruff  or  scurf 
wdiich  accumulates  at  the  roots  of  the  hair,  is  a  provision 
of  nature  to  defend  him  from  the  wind  and  the  cold. 

This,  however,  whi(jh  may  be  true,  and  correct  as  of 
til?  horse  which  is  turned  out  every  night,  during  the 


AND   GROOM   A   HORSE.  145 

greater  part  of  the  3'ear,  and  which  feeds  only  on  grass, 
with  some  slight  addition  of  oats,  and  mashes,  certainly  is 
not  applicable  to  the  farm-horses  of  the  United  States ; 
which  are,  for  the  most  part,  if  not  altogether,  stabled  for 
the  greater  part  of  the  year,  or  ia  winter,  at  least ;  fed  on 
artificial  food ;  kept  warm,  to  a  certain  extent ;  and  which, 
of  course,  must  be  cleaned  daily,  especially  after  severe 
work,  or  exposure  to  wet,  if  they  are  to  be  kept  in  health 
and  working  condition. 

"It  is  to  the  stabled  horse,"  Youatt  continues,  "highly 
fed,  and  little  or  irregularly  worked,  that  grooming  is  of 
the  highest  consequence.  Good  rubbing  with  the  brush, 
or  the  currycomb  opens  the  pores  of  the  skin,  circulates 
the  blood  to  the  extremities  of  the  body,  produces  free 
and  healthy  perspiration,  and  stands  in  the  room  of  exer- 
cise. No  horse  will  carry  a  fine  coat,  without  either 
unnatural  heat,  or  dressing.  They  both  effect  the  same 
purpose,  but  the  first  does  it  at  the  expense  of  health,  and 
strength ;  while  the  second,  at  the  same  time  that  it  pro- 
duces a  glow  on  the  skin,  and  a  determination  of  the  blood 
to  it,  rouses  all  the  energies  of  the  frame.  It  would  be 
well  for  the  proprietor  of  the  horse  if  he  were  to  insist, 
and  to  see  that  his  orders  are  really  obeyed,  that  the 
fine  coat  in  which  he,  and  his  groom  so  much  delight,  is 
produced  by  honest  rubbing,  and  not  b}^  a  heated  stable 
and  thick  clothing,  and,  most  of  all,  not  by  stimulating, 
or  injurious  spices.  The  horse  should  be  regularly 
dressed  every  day,  in  addition  to  the  grooming  that  is 
necessary  after  work." 

It  is  true,  in  a  measure,  that  the  necessity  of  regular 
dressing,  wisping,  currying,  brushing  and,  hard  rubbing  is 
far  greater  in  the  case  of  highly  pampered  horses,  fed  in 
the  most  stimulating  manner,  principally  on  grain,  kept  in 
hot  stables,  always  a  little  above  their  work,  and  ready  at 
7 


146  HOW  TO   STABLE 

all  times  to  jump  out  of  their  skins  from  the  exuberance 
of  their  animal  spirit ;  yet  it  is  necessary  to  all  housed  and 
stabled  horses ;  and  the  farmer,  no  less  than  the  owner  of 
fast  trotters,  will  find  his  advantage  in  having  his  horse 
curried  and  washed,  before  feeding  in  the  morning,  in  the 
•  increased  play  of  his  spirit,  and  in  the  gayety  and  fitness 
of  the  animal  for  his  work;  and  if,  when  he  brings  him 
in  at  night,  reeking  with  sweat,  drenched  with  rain  or 
snow,  his  thighs  and  belly  plastered  with  thick  mud,  and 
his  legs  covered,  as  cart-horses'  legs  mostly  are,  with  thick 
hair,  saturated  witli  cold  water  and  clogged  with  particles 
of  mud  and  sand,  he  neglects  to  have  him  thoroughly 
cleaned,  and  made  dry  and  comfortable  for  the  night,  he 
not  only  commits  an  act  of  gross  cruelty,  but  wholly  dis- 
regards his  own  interest.  Unless  a  horse  be  cleaned  and 
groomed  when  in  such  a  condition,  he  cannot  be  kept  in 
health ;  and  if  he  be  fed  freely  when  in  such  a  state, — 
although  the  cart-horse  is  less  liable  to  such  ailments  from 
his  hardier  habits  and  less  impressive  constitution, — the 
chances  are  that  soon  he  will  be  attacked  by  inflammation 
of  the  bowels,  or  lungs,  or  with  spasmodic  colic — the  race- 
horse, fast  trotter,  or  highly  bred  and  highly  fed  roadster 
would  be  so  attacked,  to  a  certainty — and  the  failure  to 
dry  and  cleanse  the  legs  of  such  a  horse,  especially  if 
there  be  a  draft  of  cold  wind  blowing  upon  the  heels  from 
a  crevice  under  the  stable  door,  as  is  generally  the  case  in 
common  farm  stables,  will  be  almost  certainly  succeeded 
by  that  troublesome,  dangerous  and  foul  disease,  known 
as  "grease,"  or  more  commonly  in  America  as  "the 
scratches." 

It  may  be  well  to  say  here,  that  the  best  average  heat  for 
a  gentleman's  stable  should  be  from  60,  to  not  to  exceed  65 
degrees ;  that  the  air  should  be  perfectly  dry ;  for  if  there 
be  any  moisture  about  the  stables,  it  will  hang  about  the 


AND   GKOOM   A   HORSE.  147 

horses  in  the  shape  of  a  mist,  and  the  animals,  when  they 
are  brought  into  the  open  air,  although  their  skins  will  be 
as  fine  as  can  be  imagined,  will  shiver  as  if  they  had  just 
made  their  exit  from  a  warm  bath. 

In  stables  such  as  this,  a  single  good  blanket,  breast- 
plate and  roller,  will  be  a  sufficient  clothing,  though  a 
holland  sheet,  under  the  woollen  rug,  is  very  serviceable 
in  keeping  the  skin  smooth  and  the  coat  unruffled.  A 
hood  and  cover  should  be  added  when  the  horse  is  taken 
out  for  slow  exercise.  It  is  common,  in  America,  in 
winter,  in  unusually  cold  weather,  where  horses  are  ex- 
'pected  to  be  driven  fast,  and  to  have  to  stand  still,  alter- 
nately, at  shop  doors  or  in  visiting,  to  see  them  clothed, 
under  their  harness,  in  hoods  and  blankets.  This  plan 
can,  evidently,  do  no  good ;  the  animal,  while  working 
fast,  is  as  much  more  heated  by  the  covering,  as  he  is 
afterward  more  protected  by  it  when  standing  still ;  add 
to  which,  if  the  clothing  be,  as  probably  it  will,  saturated 
with  perspiration  while  the  animals  are  in  motion,  it  will 
be  frozen,  or  rendered  entirely  cold  and  clammy,  so  soon 
as  the  motion  ceases;  and  will  in  that  state  affect  the 
animals  injuriously  instead  of  beneficially;  just  as  it  would 
affect  a  man,  to  wrap  him  up,  when  sweating  profusely, 
in  a  heavy  wet  overcoat.  If  anything  of  this  sort  be  re- 
quired, the  only  rational  way  is  to  have  the  rugs  or 
blankets  at  hand,  dry  and  warm,  in  the  boot  of  the  car- 
riage, and  to  throw  them  over  the  backs  of  the  animals, 
and  buckle  them  across  their  chests,  so  soon  as  they 
are  pulled  up,  removing  them  and  restoring  them  to  a 
dry  place  before  again  getting  under  way.  Such  is  the 
rationale  of  out-door  clothing.  There  is,  however,  no  ob- 
jection to  the  use  of  a  water-proof  covering  over  the  loins 
of  a  horse,  when  he  is  taken  out  to  be  used  through  the 
whole  of  a  cold,  rainy  or  sleety  day,  particularly  if  it  be 


148  HOW   TO   STABLE 

at  an  even,  slo\7  pace,  as  is  the  case  with  carmen's  horses, 
in  New  York,  which  are  often  so  equipped.  Another 
excellent  plan  adopted  bj  these  men,  in  summer,  is  the 
affixing  an  arched  bow  to  the  shafts  of  the  cart^  rising 
eighteen  inches  over  the  withers  of  the  animal,  from  which 
an  awning  of  duck  is  extended  to  a  cross-yard,  supported 
by  an  upright,  at  the  front  of  the  truck,  affording  a  com- 
plete protection  against  the  scorching  sun,  to  the  animal, 
and  promoting  a  draft  of  air  over  his  whole  body,  from 
the  current  caused  by  his  mere  motion  through  the  at- 
mosj)here ;  which  must  be  in  the  highest  degree  refresh- 
ing and  delightful  to  the  creature,  during  his  day-long 
toil,  in  the  dog  days. 

But  to  return  to  the  article  of  grooming.  "  When  the 
weather  will  permit  the  horse,"  continues  Mr.  Youatt,  *'to 
be  taken  out,  he  should  never  be  groomed  in  the  stable, 
unless  he  be  an  animal  of  peculiar  value,  or  placed  for  a 
time  under  peculiar  circumstances.  Without  dwelling  on 
the  want  of  cleanliness,  when  the  scurf  and  dust  that  are 
washed  from  the  horse  lodge  in  his  manger,  and  mingle 
with  his  food, — experience  teaches,  that  if  the  cold  is  not  too 
great,  the  animal  is  braced  and  invigorated  to  a  degree 
that  cannot  be  attained  in  the  stable,  by  being  dressed  in 
the  open  air.  There  is  no  necessity,  however,  for  half  the 
"punishment  which  many  a  groom  inflicts  upon  the  horse 
in  the  act  of  dressing,  and  particularly  on  one  whose  skin 
is  thin  and  sensitive.  The  currycomb  should  be,  at  all 
times,  lightly  applied.  With  many  horses,  its  use  may  be 
almost  dispensed  with ;  and  even  the  brush  need  not  be  so 
hard,  or  the  points  of  the  bristles  so  irregular  as  they  often 
are.  A  soft  brush,  with  a  little  more  weight  of  the  hand, 
will  be  equall}^  effectual,  and  a  great  deal  more  pleasant  to 
the  horse.  A  hair-cloth,  while  it  will  seldom  irritate  or 
tease,  will  be  almost  sufficient  with  horses  which  have  a 
thin  skin,  and  which  have  not  been  neglected.     After  all, 


AND   GROOM   A   HORSE.  149 

it  is  no  slight  task  to  dress  a  horse,  as  it  ought  to  be  done. 
It  occupies  no  little  time,  and  demands  considerable 
patience,  as  well  as  dexterity.  It  will  be  readily  ascer- 
tained whether  a  horse  has  been  well  dressed,  by  rubbing 
him  with  one  of  the  fingers.  A  greasy  stain  will  detect 
the  idleness  of  the  groom.  When,  however,  the  horse  is 
changing  his  coats,  both  the  currycomb  and  the  brush 
should  be  used  as  lightly  as  possible." 

In  ordinary  cleaning,  in  the  morning,  the  head  should 
be  first  dressed.  The  hair  should  be  lifted,  and  deranged 
lightly,  not  stretched,  or  torn,  with  the  currycomb,  and 
then  rubbed  well,  in  all  directions,  both  against  and  across 
the  grain  of  the  hair,  as  well  as  with  it,  until  it  is  entirely 
clear  from  dust  and  dandruff.  The  ears  should  be  gently 
pulled  and  stripped  with  the  hand,  from  the  roots  to  the 
points;  and  the  whole  head  should  then  be  washed 
smoothly  and  evenly,  as  the  hair  oaght  to  lie.  The  neck, 
back,  shoulders,  loins,  croup,  and  quarters,  follow  ;  the 
same  plan  being  used,  except  that,  in  dressing  these  parts, 
while  the  comb  is  used  lightly  and  dexterously  with  one 
hand,  the  brush  is  employed  in  removing  the  scurf  with 
the  other.  The  flexures  of  the  skin,  at  the  insertion  of 
the  limbs,  are  parts  which  require  especial  care,  as  the 
dust  is  most  apt  to  collect  in  these  places.  This  done,  the 
horse  must  be  thoroughly  wisped,  all  over,  with  bunches 
of  dry  straw,  till  his  coat  is  quite  clean  and  glossy,  when  it 
may  be  gone  over,  for  the  last  time,  with  a  fine,  soft  brush, 
or  a  light  duster.  His  clothes  may  be  then  put  on,  and 
the  legs  cleaned  in  the  same  manner,  and  finished  off  by 
a  careful  hand  rubbing.  Flannel  bandages,  steeped  in  cold 
water,  well  wrung  out,  and  applied  loosely  to  the  legs,  and 
again  covered  by  a  tighter  drawn  linen  bandage,  are  often 
of  great  advantage,  after  severe  work,  in  keeping  down 
and  checking  inflammation,  as  well  as  in  fortifjang  and 
strengthening  the  sinews,  when  in  a  sound  state,  and  in 


150  HOW  TO   STABLE   AND   GROOM   A   HORSE. 

remedying  and  alleviatiog  any  slight  slip,  or  casual  strain. 
The  mode  of  dressing,  when  the  horse  is  brought  in, 
wet,  weary,  hot,  dirty  and  exhausted,  is  nearly  identical. 
The  ears  should  be  first  stripped  and  pulled,  and  the  head 
made  comfortable.  The  dry  dirt  should  be  scraped  from 
the  legs  and  belly.  The  legs  should  be  plunged  into  tepid 
water,  and  have  all  the  dirt  washed  carefully  away ;  they 
should  be  then  carefully  dry-rubbed  with  wisps  of  clean 
straw,  and  tightly  swathed  in  flannel  bandages,  steeped  in 
water  as  warm  as  the  hand  will  bear.  The  whole  neck 
and  body  should  then — or,  if  there  be  sufficient  force  of 
hands  in  the  stable — at  the  same  time  while  the  legs  are 
being  arranged,  be  thoroughly  rubbed,  till  perfectly  clean, 
dry,  and  in  a  glow  of  vigorous  animal  heat,  with  straw 
wisps.  After  this  they  should  be  lightly  curried,  brushed, 
and  arranged;  and  then,  nor  until  then,  the  clothes  may  be 
put  on,  the  animal  fed,  his  stall  well  bedded  and  littered 
down,  and  himself  left  to  his  repose,  which,  however  hard 
his  day's  work  may  have  been,  will,  if  these  precautions 
be  taken,  be  both  soft  and  light. 

This,  in  brief,  is  the  whole  theory  of  grooming.  It  re- 
quires care,  dexterity,  exactness,  and  honest  application  of 
work.  It  cannot  be  procured  without  some  expense ;  or 
relied  on,  without  the  active  and  intelligent  supervision  of 
the  master  ;  but  without  it  no  stables  can  be  in  order, — 
no  horses  healthy,  happy,  or  in  condition  for  doing  the 
work  for  the  performance  of  which  they  are  kept. 

As  of  feeding  and  stabling,  it  may  be  said  of  grooming, 
without  fear  of  contradiction,  that,  for  every  dollar  ex- 
pended, the  horse-owner  will  receive  in  the  results  the 
recompense  of,  at  least,  a  hundred;  and  that  without 
attending  to  this  essential  branch  of  stable  economy,  he 
can  never  expect  to  be  satisfied  with,  much  less  proud  of, 
the  performances  of  his  horses,  and  the  state  of  his  stables. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

HOW    TO    BKEAK    AND   USE  A   HORSE. 

"WHAT  IS  REQUIRED  IN  A  "WELL-BROKEN  HORSE  — HIS  EDUCATION  SHOULD 
COMMENCE  WHEN  A  COLT — BITTING — PU'lTING  HIM  IN  HARNESS — HOW  TO 
USE  A  HORSE — TRAVELLING— WORKING — PLEASURE  HORSES— PUNISHMENTS. 

It  is  not  too  much  to  say,  that  not  one  horse  in  a  hun- 
dred, if  one  in  a  thousand,  in  the  United  States,  is  ever 
properly  broken ;  or  one  in  fifty,  when  offered  for  sale  as 
a  finished  horse,  entered  in  the  merest  rudiments  of  his 
education.  Horses  in  America, — we  cannot  say  wherefore, 
but,  perhaps,  from  the  general  absence  of  a  very  high  de- 
gree of  blood,  from  the  general  absence  of  extremely  high 
and  stimulating  feeding  and  grooming,  which  not  only 
act  directly  on  the  individual  horse,  but  exert  an  influence, 
increasing  generation  after  generation,  over  the  progeny 
of  horses  long  kept  up  in  an  unnatural  condition, — are 
very  rarely  actively,  and  almost  never  savagely,  vicious. 
Nothing  more  than  this,  as  a  general  thing,  is  required. 
If  a  horse  will  carry  his  rider  without  kicking  him  over 
his  head,  or  draw  him  in  his  wagon  or  buggy  without 
kicking  it  to  shivers  ;  if  he  >vill  go  off  at  a  walk,  increase 
his  speed  to  the  top  of  his  gait,  and  stop  again  when  pulled 
upon,  without  running  away ;  if  he  will  hold  back  going 
down  hill,  and  if  he  will  not  balk  going  up  hill;  and 
more  particularly,  if  he  will  stand  at  a  door  without  tying, 
he  is  held  to  be  firily  broken,  and  is  willingly  received, 
credited,  and  paid  for  as  such. 

It  is  needless,  however,  to  say  to  a  real  horseman,  that 
such  a  horse  is  as  far  as  possible  from  being  broken  at  all, 
especially  from  being  well  broken.  To  be  really  well  broken, 

[151] 


152  HOW   TO   BREAK  A  HORSE. 

a  liorse  must  be  so  disciplined  as  to  have  apparently  no 
will  but  his  rider's.  He  must  have  been  so  educated  as  to 
carry  his  body,  his  head,  all  his  limbs,  in  the  easiest,  the 
most  graceful  and  the  most  accurate  position.  Ilis  neck 
must  be  like  a  steel  bow,  yielding  to  the  pressure  of  the 
hand,  but  returning  with  the  head  to  its  natural  position 
the  moment  that  the  pressure  ceases.  His  mouth  must  be 
like  velvet  to  the  touch  ;  and  if  the  animal  at  times  pull 
or  resist  the  pressure  of  the  bit  and  the  command  of  the 
rider's  finger,  it  must  be  from  exuberance  of  animal 
spirits  and  force  of  animal  courage,  not  from  hardness  of 
mouth,  as  it  is  usuall}^  called,  or  in  truth,  from  rigidity 
and  intractability  of  the  muscles  of  the  jaw  and  neck — as 
has  been  demonstrated  by  M.  Baucher,  the  great  French 
equestrian  teacher. 

He  must  change  his  leg,  alter  his  paces,  moderate  his 
paces,  all  at  the  will  of  his  rider  or  driver,  and  must,  in 
fact,  be  little  or  nothing  more  than  a  living  and  spirited 
automaton  in  his  hands. 

The  next  question  that  arises  is,  how  shall  this  be  done  ? 
Clearly,  we  answer,  not  by  allowing  the  colt  or  filly  to  go 
wild  and  run  riot,  until  it  shall  have  attained  its  full 
strength,  its  full  energies,  and  the  full  sway  of  its  natural 
temper  unconstrained,  without  making  an  effort  to  train, 
or  teach,  or  even  tame  it,  until>  it  be  two  and  a  half  or  three 
years  old,  and  then  to  take  it  up,  saddle  it  and  bridle  it  by 
force,  and,  putting  it  into  the  hands  of  some  fearless,  hard- 
hearted, mutton-fisted,  rough-riding  fellow,  scarce  less  a 
brute,  in  all  points  of  humanity,  than  that  which  he  pro- 
fesses to  teach,  expect  it  to  be  turned  out,  by  dint  of  whip 
and  spurs,  a  gentle  animal,  rendered  gentle  by  brute  vio- 
lence, and  a  well-instructed  animal. 

The  education  of  a  liorse  should  commence  when  he  is 
a  colt.     He  should  be  handled  frequently  by  different  per- 


HIS   EDUCATION.  153 

sons,  and  slioaldbe  made  accustomed  to  whatever  is  likely 
to  attract  his  attention  when  lie  is  put  in  harness.  The 
more  he  is  accustomed  to  straps  tlie  less  likely  will  he  be 
to  become  frightened  by  accidental  breaking  of  the  har- 
ness, by  the  falling  of  a  trace  about  his  heels,  or  by  having 
the  reins  thrown  on  his  back  by  a  careless  driver. 

Young  horses,  while  mere  foals  nursing  by  their  mothers' 
sides,  should  be  accustomed  to  be  fearless ;  should  be  ac- 
customed to  feed  from  the  hand,  to  suffer  themselves  to 
be  handled,  to  have  their  feet  lifted,  and  tapped  with  the 
hands  or  a  hammer  on  the  soles,  to  be  led  to  and  fro  by 
the  forelock,  to  endure ,  the  pressure  of  the  hand  on  the 
back,  to  rejoice  in  being  constantly  flattered,  caressed  and 
spoken  to ;  nay,^even  to  understand  words  of  gentle  re- 
proach. They  should  be  very  early  equipped  with  a  head- 
stall, having  a  ring  appended  to  which  a  halter  can  be 
attached,  and  by  these  means  they  can  be  easily  taught  to 
follow  at  any  pace  the  person  leading  them,  walking, 
running  or  stopping  as  he  may  desire.  Punishment  at 
this  period  should  never  be  resorted  to,  but  rewards 
should  be  continually  offered.  Bits  of  bread,  or  carrots, 
should  be  carried  in  the  pocket,  and  given  to  the  little 
creature,  with  a  caress,  when  it  has  done  what  is  required 
of  it. 

Soon  after  this  a  pad  may  he  strapped  on  the  back  for  a 
few  hours  daily ;  and,  after  a  time,  stirrup-leathers,  and  then 
stirrups  appended  to  it,  and  suffered  to  flap  about,  by  which 
means  all  fear  of  such  things  will  be  removed  long  enough 
before  it  will  become  necessary  to  saddle  him  for  any  real 
purpose.  When  he  is  about  a  year  old  the  colt's  bits 
should  be  occasionally  put  in  his  mouth,  and  he  should 
be  reined  up  gently  to  his  surcingle,  and  allowed  to  play 
with  thr^m  or  mouth  them :  and,  after  this,  he  may  stand 
for  an  hour  or  two  betwe\^n  the  pillars,  with  reins  attached 


154  HOW    TO   BREAK  A   HOESE. 

from  tlie  colt's  bit  to  rings  placed  at  a  proper  height  in 
the  standards.  But  here  it  is  necessary  to  observe,  above 
almost  any  other  thing  in  the  world,  that  it  is  fatal  to  the 
formation  of  the  animal's  mouth  to  place  the  rings  too  high, 
or  to  bear  np  the  head  above  its  ordinary  and  natural  ele- 
vation. This  is  a  thing  often  done,  with  a  view  to  giving 
a  lofty  carriage  to  the  colt's  head,  and  to  produce  a  proud 
bearing.  It  does  nothing  of  the  kind.  It  causes  the 
horse,  weary  with  having  its  head  forced  into  an  unnatural 
position,  to  bear,  to  weigh,  to  hang  upon  the  bits, — to  be- 
come accustomed  to  their  pressure,  and  to  find  pleasure 
instead  of  pain  from  it,  so  that,  at  the  last,  it  acquires  a 
mouth  perfectly  unimpressive,  and  muscles  set  and  rigid. 

Shortly  after  this  the  colt  should  be  longed,  or  worked 
in  a  circle,  with  a  long  cord  attached  to  the  breaking  bits, 
in  a  smooth  grass  field;  by  which  means  he  is  taught  his 
paces,  taught  to  regulate' them,  taught  to  moderate,  to  in- 
crease or  diminish  his  speed,  to  change  his  leg,  to  come 
toward  the  operator,  or  to  stop  dead  short  at  a  signal, 
either  of  the  voice  or  of  the  crack  of  the  whip.  All  this 
it  requires  only  time,  patience  and  good  temper  to  effect ; 
and,  when  effected,  half  the  business  is  done.  The  rest 
must  be  accomplished  when  the  animal  is  backed. 

Experience,  practice,  patience,  added  to  individual  apti- 
tude, natural  tact,  and  acquired  skill  and  habit,  are  the  only 
things  by  which  a  man  may  become  a  horse-breaker. 

No  attempt  should  be  made  to  put  the  colt  to  work 
before  he  is  three  and  a  half  to  four  years  old.  and  it  would 
be  far  better  to  exact  no  work,  beyond  what  is  necessary 
for  gentle  exercise,  before  he  is  six  years  old ;  this,  although 
not  at  first  remunerative,  is  eminently  so  in  the  end,  for 
the  two  years'  loss  in  early  life  wdll  generally  add  six  to 
eight  years  to  a  horse's  woiking  time. 

If  the  colt  has  been  treated  as  previously  directed,  there 


IN   HARNESS.  155 

will  be  little  difficulty  in  breaking  him  to  harness  work. 
It  will  be  only  necessary  to  put  him  in  by  the  side  of  an 
old  and  steady  horse,  and  light  wagon  without  a  load,  and 
to  handle  him  gently,  until  he  is  made  to  understand  what 
is  required  of  him. 

If  he  is  a  v/ild  colt,  whose  whole  life  has  been  spent  at 
pasture,  or  in  the  straw-yard,  it  becomes  a  more  serious 
matter.  He  should  be  kept  in  the  stable  for  a  few  days, 
visited  and  handled  frequently,  and  gradually  made  ac- 
quainted with  the  harness,  wearing  it  for  a  few  hours  at  a 
time  in  his  stall.  He  should  next  be  taken  into  a  large 
stable,  or  shed,  or  into  a  small  yard,  and  made  to  advance, 
or  turn  to  the  right  or  to  the  left,  as  he  is  spoken  to  or 
guided  by  the  reins.  The  trainer  should  use  only  the  most 
gentle  means,  and  should  in  no  case  allow  himself  to  show 
the  least  impatience.  Whatever  he  desires  to  have  done 
should  always  be  within  the  power  of  the  horse  to  compre- 
hend, and  then  be  strictly  enforced,  but  always  with  perse- 
vering calmness.  If  it  be  necessary  to  whip  the  colt,  it 
should  be  done  thoroughly,  and  under  such  circumstances 
as  will  preclude  the  possibility  of  his  resisting  with  any 
effect:  for  every  compliance  with  our  wishes  he  should  be 
rewarded  with  caresses. 

If  it  is  not  convenient  to  put  him  by  the  side  of  a  well- 
broken  horse,  as  before  directed,  he  may  be  brought  out 
and  have  the  wagon  shown  to  liim,  being  allowed  to 
examine  it  with  his  nose  until  he  has  become  familiar  with 
every  part  of  it,  and  until  he  can  be  led  or  backed  toward  it 
from  any  direction  without  fear.  He  should  then  be  put 
into  the  shafts  and  securely  attached,  so  that  no  straps  can 
strike  d gainst  him ;  he  should  then  be  made  to  advance,  and 
the  wagon  pushed  gently  from  behind,  that  he  may  not  at 
first  feel  its  weight.  When  he  has  in  this  way  become  ac- 
customed to  its  presence,  the  pushing  from  behind  may  be 


156  HOW   TO   BREAK   A    HORSE. 

gradually  lessened.  It  is  a  verj^-  good  plan  to  set  tlie  wagon 
on  ground  which  is  slightly  descending,  so  that  it  will 
nearly  run  from  its  own  weight ;  but  the  hill  should  not  be 
steep  enough  to  cause  the  wagon  to  run  on  to  him. 

In  this  way  any  colt,  not  absolutely  vicious — and  very 
few,  if  any,  are  so  until  they  have  been  badly  treated — 
may  be  brought,  by  imperceptible  degi'ees,  to  be  a  good 
harness  horse,  without  in  any  wa}^  ruffling  his  temper,  or 
giving  him  any  disagreeable  recollections  which  shall  inter- 
fere with  his  future  usefulness.  This  is  properly  training  a 
horse,  and  it  differs  widely  from  the  old  method  of  breaking^ 
which  was  usually  a  struggle  between  the  man  and  horse, 
to  see  whose  will  or  neck  should  first  be  broken  ;  and  which 
was  sure,  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  to  produce  a  bad  and 
lasting  effect  on  the  horse's  disposition.  The  time  to  be 
occupied  in  the  exercise  of  training  will  be  long  or  short, 
in  proportion  to  the  skill  of  the  trainer  and  the  nature  of 
the  animal,  but  it  can  never  be  so  long  that  it  will  not  be 
a  hundred  times  repaid  in  the  docility  and  usefulness  of 
the  horse. 

Every  part  of  the  harness  and  wagon  should  be  so 
strong  and  well  made  that  there  can  be  no  possi-bility  of 
breaking.  When  it  is  possible  to  do  so,  it  is  always  best 
to  put  the  young  colt  in  double  harness,  by  the  side  of  a 
strong,  steady,  well-trained  horse,  until  he  is  perfectly 
quiet,  and.  will  bear  the  whip  and  the  rein  wel].  Greater 
docility,  better  subjection  to  the  hand,  and  generally 
better  style  and  action  will  be  attainable,  if  the  colt 
be  thoroughly  trained  to  the  saddle  before  being  put 
in  harness;  usually,  however,  in  this  country,  it  is  very 
difficult  to  iind  a  proper  person  to  train  a  colt  in  this  way. 
•Tlie  same  course  of  bitting  should  be  resorted  to  as  will 
be  described  for  the  preliminary  training  of  the  saddle 
horse. 


TWO   CLASSES   OF  HORSES.  157 

I10^Y    TO    USE    A    HORSE. 

It  is  not,  after  all,  every  one  who  owns  a  horse  that 
knows  how  to  use  him,  whether  for  his  own  pleasure  or  the 
horse's,  which  is,  in  other  words,  the  owner's  best  advan- 
tage. Nor  is  it  very  easy  to  lay  down  rules  how  a  horse 
should  be  used,  considering  the  many  different  purposes 
for  which  horses  are  kept,  the  different  natures  and  consti- 
tutions of  the  animals,  and  the  different  circumstances  of 
their  owners. 

Horses  may,  in  general,  be  divided  into  two  classes, — 
those  kept  for  work,  and  those  kept  for  pleasure.  In  the 
former  class  may  be  included  fl^rm-horses,  stage,  coach  and 
omnibus  hordes,  team-horses,  employed  in  the  transporta- 
tion of  goods,  and  moving  heavy  and  bulky  masses,  car- 
men's horses, — and  lastly,  the  road  horses  of  all  professional 
men,  who,  like  lawyers,  doctors  of  medicine,  and  the  like, 
are  compelled  to  drive  or  ride  many  hours  per  diem,  regu- 
larly, in  the  performance  of  their  business. 

In  the  latter  class  may  be  included  race-horses,  match- 
trotters,  private  gentlemen's  saddle-horses,  carriage  horses, 
or  roadsters,  and  many  other  animals  belonging  to  business 
men,  which  being  employed  during  half  the  time  or  more 
in  actual  service,  are  used  during  spare  hours  on  the  road 
for  purposes  of  amusement. 

"With  regard  to  the  first  class  of  these  horses,  the  exigen- 
cies of  the  business  to  which  they  are  applied  are,  for  the 
most  part,  such  as  to  supersede  and  override  all  rules.  In 
some  cases  the  natural  hours  of  the  day  and  night  have  to 
be  reversed,  and  the  animals  are  called  upon  to  do  their 
work  by  night,  and  to  rest  and  feed  by  day.  Under  these 
circumstances  it  may  be  laid  down  as  an  immutable  law, 
that  at  wliatever  hour  the  horses  are  to  be  worked,  they 
must  have  full  time,  beforehand,  to  digest  their  food  and 
water ;  they  must  be  carefully  cleaned,  and  made  comforta- 


158  now  TO  USE  a  horse. 

ble;  they  must  have  sufficient  intervals  for  halting  and 
baiting,  on  the  road,  must  be  cleaned  and  well  fed  during 
the  intervals  of  work,  and  must  have  ample  time  for  undis- 
turbed repose.  The  distance  which  horses  in  perfect  con- 
dition can  go  upon  the  road,  varies  greatly  witli  the  powers 
of  the  animal,  the  degree  of  pains  bestowed  on  him,  the 
skill  of  his  driver,  and  the  amount  of  his  load,  as  well  as 
the  state  of  the  roads.  But  it  may  be  taken  as  a  rule,  that 
strong,  able  horses,  of  moderate  speed,  can  travel  forty  miles 
a  day,  with  a  moderate  load,  without  distress,  for  many 
days  in  succession.  It  may  be  observed,  that  it  is  the  bet- 
ter way  to  start  at  an  easy  pace  when  on  a  journey,  to  in- 
crease it  slightly  in  the  middle  of  the  day,  and  again  to 
relax  it  before  coming  in  at  night,  in  order  to  allow  the 
animals  to  enter  their  stables  cool,  in  good  order,  and  ready, 
after  a  short  rest,  and  cleaning,  to  feed  with  an  appetite. 

It  may  also  be  observed,  in  this  point  of  view,  that  it  is 
a  mistake  to  fancy  that  horses  are  benefited  by  being 
driven  or  ridden  very  slowly  when  they  have  a  long  dis- 
tance to  perform.  If  a  horse  have  to  get  over  forty  miles 
in  a  day,  the  roads  being  good,  the  temperature  of  the  day 
pleasant,  and  the  load  not  excessive,  he  will  do  it  with  more 
ease  and  less  inconvenience  to  himself,  going  at  the  rate 
of  seven  or  eight  miles  the  hour,  and  doing  the  whole  dis- 
tance in  five  or  six  hours, — with  a  single  stoppage,  in  the 
middle  of  the  day,  to  feed  and  rest, — than  if  he  be  kept 
pottering  along  at  the  rate  of  four  or  five  miles,  and  be 
kept  out  of  his  stable,  hungry  and  thirsty,  and  leg-weary 
to-boot,  for  a  longer  time. 

Farm-horses,  whose  work  is  necessarily  slow  and  con- 
tinuous, lasting  ordinarily  from  sunrise  to  sunset,  with  the 
exception  of  a  mid-day  halt  for  baiting,  are  under  difterent 
circumstances.  Their  work  being  always  slow,  and  rarely, 
if  ever,  severe,  at  the  moment,  or  toilsome,  except  from  its 


PLEASURE   HORSES.  159 

long  duration,  they  need  not  be  subject  to  the  same  condi- 
tion as  fast- working  horses,  of  being  fed  long  before  they 
are  put  to  work  and  allowed  to  evacuate  their  bowels 
thoroughly  before  being  harnessed.  They  may,  therefore,  be 
fed  and  watered  at  the  last  moment,  and  put  to  slow  work 
immediately,  and  will  rarely  take  harm  from  travelling  on 
full  stomachs.  In  the  same  manner,  when  they  are  loosed 
at  nooji-day,  being  rarely  overheated,  after  a  slight  rest 
and  a  slighter  rubbing  down — which,  by  the  way,  they 
rarely  receive — they  may  take  their  mid-day  feed  without 
delay,  and  without  fear  of  evil  consequences.  In  the  like 
manner  may  be  treated  carmen's  horses,  and  team-horses, 
the  labor  of  which  is  heavy  and  continuous  rather  than 
rapid.  All  horses,  however,  whatever  the  work  to  which 
they  are  applied,  should  have  ample  time  to  rest  at  night, 
and  should  be  thoroughly  rubbed  down,  dried,  clothed  and 
made  comfortable,  before  feeding  them  and  closing  the 
stables  for  the  night, — and  the  more  so,  the  more  trying 
the  day's  work. 

"With  regard  to  pleasure-horses,  which  are  usually  in  the 
stables,  more  or  less,  twenty  hours  out  of  every  twenty- 
four,  which  are  only  taken  out  for  the  gratification  of  the 
owner  at  such  times  as  it  suits  his  humor  or  necessity,  they 
should  never  be  taken  out  or  driven  fast  on  full  stomachs; 
which  can  always  be  avoided  by  letting  the  groom  know, 
in  case  that  they  will  be  required  at  an  unusual  hour  or 
for  unusual  work — when  he  can  adapt  his  feeding  hours  to 
the  circumstances  of  the  case. 

When  harnessed  and  ready  for  a  start,  the  driver  should 
mount  his  seat  quietly,  gather  his  reins,  and  get  his  horses 
under  way,  slowly  and  gradually,  by  speaking  or  chirruping 
to  them;  never  starting  them  with  a  jerk,  or  striking  them 
with  a  whip, — allowing  them  to  increase  their  pace  by  de- 
grees to  the  speed  required,  instead  of  forcing  it  on  a  sudden. 


160  HOW   TO    USE  A  HOESE. 

It  is  far  better  for  horses,  to  drive  them  steadily  at  a 
regular  pace,  even  if  it  be  ten  or  twelve  miles  an  hour, 
than  to  send  them  along  by  fits  and  starts — now  spinning 
them  over  the  road  at  sixteen  or  eighteen  miles,  now  plod- 
ding along  at  six  or  seven ;  and  of  two  pairs  of  horses, 
driven  the  same  distance,  after  the  two  different  methods, 
that  which  is  driven  evenly  will,  at  the  end  of  the  day,  be 
comparatively  fresh  and  comfortable,  while  the  oth^r  will 
be  jaded  and  worn  out. 

In  regard  to  punishment,  the  less  that  is  administered 
the  better.  A  sluggish  or  lazy  horse  must,  it  is  true,  be 
kept  up  to  his  collar  and  made  to  do  his  share  of  the  work, 
or  the  free-goer  will  be  worn  out  before  the  day  is  half 
done ;  and  for  this  the  whip  must  be  occasionally  used. 
Even  good  and  free-going  horses  will  occasionally  be  seized 
with  fits  of  indolence,  at  moments,  induced  perhaps  by  the 
weather,  and  it  may  be  necessary  to  stimulate  them  in  such 
cases;  again,  at  times  when  roads  are  bad,  when  time 
presses,  and  certain  distances  must  be  accomplished  within 
certain  times,  recourse  must  be  had  to  punishment ;  as  it 
must  occasionally,  also,  in  cases  where  the  animals  are 
vicious  or  refractory,  and  where  the  master  must  show  him- 
self the  master.  Still,  as  a  general  rule,  punishment  should 
be  the  last  resort.  It  should  never  be  attempted  with  a 
tired,  a  jaded,  or  an  exhausted  horse ;  for  to  apply  it  in 
such  cases  is  utter  barbarity ;  little  or  no  immediate  ad- 
vantage is  gained  to  the  driver,  while  it  may  probably 
result  in  the  loss  of  an  excellent  animal.  It  is  common  to 
see  horses  punished  for  stumbling,  punished  for  starting; 
and  whenever  a  new  horse,  which  one  may  chance  to  be 
trying,  starts  off  into  a  gallop  after  committing  either  of 
these  offences,  one  ma}^  be  sure  that  he  is  an  habitual  starter 
or  stumbler,  and  tliat  he  has  frequently  undergone  chastise- 
ment for  them,  and  undergone  it  in  vain.     It  is  altogether 


DKIVING.  161 

an  error  to  punish  for  eitlier  starting  or  stumbling ;  the 
one  is  the  effect  of  fear,  which  cannot  be  cured  by  the  whip, 
the  other,  in  most  cases,  of  malformation  or  of  tenderness 
in  the  foot,  which  certainly  cannot  be  treated  successfully 
by  chastisement,  which,  in  fact,  aggravates  and  confirms 
instead  of  alleviatinsr  or  curins^. 

In  speaking  of  driving  at  an  equal  pace,  we  would  not,  of 
course,  be  understood  to  mean  that  horses  should  be  driven 
at  the  same  gait  and  speed  over  all  roads,  and  over  grounds 
of  all.  natures.  Far  from  it,  A  good  driver  will,  while 
going,  always,  at  the  rate  of  ten  miles — we  wall  say — an 
hour,  never,  perhaps,  have  his  horses  going  at  exactly  the 
same  rate  for  any  two  consecutive  twenty  minutes.  Over 
a  dead  level,  the  hardest  of  all  things  except  a  long  con* 
tinuous  ascent  of  miles,  he  will  spare  his  horses.  Over  a 
rolling  road,  he  will  hold  them  hard  in  hand  as  he  crosses 
the  top  and  descends  the  first  steep  pitch  of  a  descent ;  will 
swing  them  down  the  remainder  at  a  pace  which  will  jump 
them  across  the  intervening  flat  and  carry  them  half  way 
up  the  succeeding  hill ;  and  will  catch  them  in  hand  again 
and  hold  them  hard  over  the  top,  as  we  have  shown  before. 

Horses  in  work  should  be  watered  about  once,  with  not 
to  exceed  two  quarts,  after  every  ten  miles,  or  every  hour, 
if  one  be  travelling  fast ;  and  if  travelling  far,  they  should  be 
w^ell  fed  once  in  the  middle  of  their  journey.  This  point,- 
however,  has  been  discussed  already  under  the  head  of 
feeding. 

In  closing,  we  would  say,  always  remember,  in  using  a 
horse,  that  it  cannot  be  done  with  too  much  coolness,  too 
much  gentleness,  too  much  discretion,  or  too  much  kindness. 

There  is  no  better  beast  in  the  world  than  a  horse,  nor 
any  one  which,  though  often  most  cruelly  misused  by  man, 
so  well  deserves,  and  so  amply,  by  his  services,  repays  the 
best  usage. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

HOW    TO     PHYSIC     A     HORSE SIMPLE    REMEDIES    FOR    SIMPLE 

AILMENTS. 

CAUSES  OP  AILMENTS — MEDICINES  TO  BE  GIVEN  ONLY  BY  THE  ORDER  OF 
THE  MASTER— DEPLETION  AND  PURGING— SPASMODIC  COLIC— INFLAMMA- 
TION OF  THE  BOWELS — INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  LUNGS— HOW  TO  BLEED- 
BALLS  AND  PURGATIVES— COSTIVENESS — COUGHS — BRONCHITIS— DISTEM- 
PER— WORMS— DISEASES  OF  THE  FEET — SCRATCHES— THRUSH— BROKEN 
KNEES. 

It  is  not  too  much,  to  say  that  more  than  one-half  the 
ailments  of  horses  arise,  in  the  first  instance,  from  bad 
management, — or,  to  speak  more  correctly,  from  absence  of 
all  management, — from  an  improper  system  of  feeding, 
from  ill-constructed,  unventilated,  filthy  stabling,  from  in- 
judicious driving,  and  neglect  of  cleaning.  When  disease 
has  arisen,  it  is  immediately  aggravated  and,  perhaps,  ren- 
dered ultimately  fatal,  either  by  want  of  medical  aid,  or» 
what  is  far  more  frequent'  as  well  as  far  more  prejudicial, 
ignorant,  improper,  and  often  violent  treatment,  either  on 
a  wrong  diagnosis  of  the  affection,  or  on  a  still  more 
wrong  system  of  relieving  it.  Over-rnedicining  and  vul- 
garly quacking  slightly  ailing  horses  is  the  bane  of  half 
the  private  stables  in  cities,  and  of  nearly  all  the  farm  sta- 
bles in  the  country ;  and  one  or  the  other,  or  both  com- 
bined, cause  the  ruin  of  half  the  horses  which  "go  to  the 
bad"  every  year. 

There  is  no  quack  on  earth  equal  to  an  ignorant,  opin- 

(162) 


MALPRACTICE.  163 

ionated  groom ;  and  every  one,  now-a-dajs,  holds  himself  a 
groom,  who  is  trusted  with  the  care  of  a  horse,  even  if  he 
do  not  know  how  to  clean  him  properly,  or  to  feed  him  so 
as  not  to  interfere  with  his  working  hours.  Every  one  of 
these  wretched  fellows,  who  has  no  more  idea  of  a  horse's 
structure  or  of  his  constitution  than  he  has  of  the  model  of 
a  ship  or  the  economy  of  an  empire,  is  sure  to  have  a  thou- 
sand infallible  remedies  for  every  possible  disease,  the 
names  of  which  he  does  not  know,  nor  their  causes,  origin 
or  operation ;  and  which,  if  he  did  know  their  names,  he 
is  entirely  incapable  of  distinguishing,  one  from  the  other. 
These  remedies  he  applies  at  haphazard,  wholly  in  the 
dark  as  to  their  effect  on  the  system  in  general,  or  on  the 
particular  disease,  and,  of  course,  nine  times  out  of  ten  he 
applies  them  wrongfully,  and  aggravates  fifty-fold  the 
injury  he  affects  to  be  able  to  relieve. 

These  are  the  fellows  who  are  constantly  administering 
purgative  balls,  diuretic  balls,  cordial  balls,  on  their  own 
hook,  without  advice,  orders,  or  possible  reason — and  such 
balls,  too !  some  of  them  scarcely  less  fatal  than  a  cannon 
ball — who  are  continaally  drugging  their  horses  with  nitre 
in  their  food,  under  an  idea  that  it  is  cooling  to  the  system 
and  that  it  makes  the  coat  sleek  and  silky  ;  never  suspect- 
ing that  it  is  a  violent  diuretic  ;  that  its  operation  on  the 
kidneys  is  irritating  and  exhausting  in  the  extreme ,  and 
that  the  only  way  in  which  it  cools  the  animal's  system  is 
that  it  reduces  his  strength  and  acts  as  a  serious  drain  on 
his  constitution.  These,  lastly,  are  the  fellows  who  are 
constantly  applying  liot  oils,  fiery  irritants,  and  stimulants, 
to  wounds,  strains,  bruises,  or  contusions,  which  in  them- 
selves produce  violent  inflammation,  and  to  which,  requir- 
ing as  they  do  the  exhibition  of  mild  and  soothing  remedies, 
cold  lotions,  or  warm  fomentations,  the  application  of  these 
stimulating,  volatile  essences  is  much  what  it  would  be  to 


164  HOW   TO   PHYSIC   A   HORSE. 

administer  brandy  and  cayenne  to  a  man  with  a  brain 
fever. 

It  should,  therefore,  be  a  positive  rule  in  every  stable, 
whether  for  pleasure  or  farm  purposes,  that  not  a  drachm  of 
medicine  is  ever  to  be  administered  without  the  express 
orders  of  the  master.  Even  if  a  horse-keeper  be  so  fortu- 
nate as  to  possess  a  really  intelligent,  superior  servant,  who 
has  served  his  apprenticeship  in  a  good  stable,  and  has 
learned  a  good  deal  about  horses,  he  should  still  insist  on 
being  invariably  consulted  before  medicine  is  administered. 
He  should  acquaint  himself  with  the  man's  reasons  for 
wishing  to  administer  medicine  at  all;  his  idea  of  the 
ailment  which  he  supposes  to  exist ;  of  the  symptoms  from 
which  he  diagnoses  it,  anrf  of  the  nature  and  action  of  the 
drug  which  it  is  proposed  to  exhibit.  If  he  see  that  the 
symptoms  do  exist,  and  learn  that  the  nature  of  the  medi- 
cine is  such  as  would  be  expected  to  counteract  such  an 
ailment — which  a  very  small  share  of  common  sense  will 
enable  him  to  discover — he  will  do  well  to  sanction  the 
proceeding.  But  if  there  be  the  least  doubt  about  the 
s3anptoms,  and  still  more,  unless  the  man  have  a  clear 
conception  why  he  should  give  this  dose  for  that  disease, 
and  what  is  its  effect  on  the  constitution,  he  should  put  an 
absolute  veto  on  all  proceedings  until  the  advice  of  a 
regular  practitioner  can  be  obtained.  Even  these — ^^unless 
they  chance  to  be  men  of  superior  ability,  and,  what  is 
very  rare  in  America,  even  in  the  large  cities,  and  almost 
unknown  in  the  country,  men  of  real  education  also — will 
be  very  likely  to  overdo  the  matter.  "In  the  first  place, 
w^hen  called  in,  they  judge  it  necessary  to  order  something 
in  order  to  show  that  they  know  what  is  the  matter  and 
wdiat  is  wanting.  In  the  second  place,  they  almost  always 
have  I'ecourse  to  violent,  drastic,  aloetic  purges,  and  to 
extreme  measures  generally,  when,  half  the  time,  no  modi- 


PUJIGATIVES.  165 

cine  at  all,  or  at  most  a  simple  alterative,  or  a  diaphoretic, 
or  an  enema,  is  all  that  is  required. 

Of  course,  any  sensible  man,  if  his  horse  be  dangerously 
and  acutelj-  affected,  whether  he  do  or  do  not  himself  know 
precisely  what  is  the  disease,  will  call  in  the  best  medical 
aid  his  neighborhood  will  afford  as  soon  as  possible.  But, 
in  the  mean  time,  palliations  may  be  always  used,  innocent 
in  themselves,  if  not  useful ;  and,  in  many  acute  and  sud- 
den diseases,  if  immediate  relief  be  not  applied,  the  malady 
will  have  gained  such  headway  that  when  advice  arrives 
it  will  be  too  late  to  check  it;  whereas,  if  some  simple  but 
active  treatment  be  adopted  on  the  spot,  much  time  will 
be  saved,  in  the  least  important  view  of  the  matter,  and,  in 
the  worst,  possibly  life  itself.  Again :  in  the  case  of  acci- 
dents, wounds  and  sudden  casualties,  it  is  often  impera- 
tively necessary  to  act  upon  the  spot ;  and  it  is  always 
highly  desirable  to  do  so,  insomuch  as,  if  nothing  else,  it 
by  so  much  expedites  the  cure.  Once  again :  there  are 
many  ailments  of  so  trifling  a  character  and  so  simple  of 
treatment  that  it  would  be  entirely  superfluous  for  a  horse- 
keeper  to  call  in  the  aid  of  a  veterinary  surgeon  on  each 
occurrence  of  one  of  these,  even  if  he  were  close  at  hand, 
since  they  are  such  that  every  stable  should  be  capable  of 
managing  its  own  cases  within  itself 

It  is  to  these  fcee  classes  of  cases  that  we  intend  to  con- 
flne  ourselves  in  the  remarks  which  we  propose  to  offer  for 
the  use  of  our  readers,  whether  urban,  suburban  or  rural, 
who  keep  horses  and  desire  to  promote,  what  fortunately 
go  hand-in-hand  together,  the  utility  and  the  well-being  of 
that  noble  animal.  And  first,  we  would  have  our  readers 
divest  themselves  of  the  idea  that  there  is  anything  porten- 
tously secret,  wonderful,  or  out  of  the  course  of  nature  in 
the  ailments  of  horses,  or  that  it  requires  either  extraordi- 
nary sagacity  or  intense  study  to  treat  their  commoner  and 


166  HOW    TO    PHYSIC   A   HORSE. 

more  usual  maladies  so  as  to  give  them  immediate  relief, 
and  to  enable  them  to  resume  their  labors  for  our  own 
benefit  in  a  short  period.  The  truth  is  the  very  reverse  of 
this.  The  more  ordinary  diseases  and  affections  of  the 
horse  are  very  similar  to  those  with  which  we  are  affected 
ourselves;  their  treatment  is  always  analogous,  often 
almost  exactly  identical ;  the  processes  by  which  relief  is 
to  be  obtained  are  the  same,  and  the  medicines  do  not  ma- 
terially differ  from  those  suitable  to  the  human  race.  It 
is  not  too  much  to  say  that  any  intelligent  man,  gifted  with 
good  reasoning  powers  and  not  deficient  in  observation, 
who  knows  how  to  keep  his  own  bodily  health  in  a  good 
state,  and  to  deal  with  his  own  ordinary  ailments,  can, 
within  twelve  months,  qualify  himself  to  treat  a  horse  in 
all  the  cases  that  are  likely  to  befal  him,  under  ordinary 
circumstances,  as  well  as  any  body  else,  and  fifty  times 
better  than  the  stable-keepers,  who  will  sneer  at  his  efforts 
until  they  perceive  that  they  are  successful,  and  then  will 
suddenly  discover  that  the  means  he  took  are  precisely 
those  which  themselves  recommended.  The  things  of 
great  importance  which  he  has  to  learn,  in  order  to  guard 
against  danger,  are,  how  much  depletion  the  system  of  a 
horse  can  endure  without  danger,  and  what  extent  of  pur- 
gation his  bowels  can  resist  undamaged.  And  to  these 
questions  it  may  be  answered,  generally,  that  the  horse 
can  bear  much  more  depletion  and  less  purgation  than  is 
generally  imagined,  especially  of  the  drastic  drugs  usually 
exhibited.  We  are  very  decided  opponents  of  purgatives 
in  general,  and  have  been  gratified  by  observing  that  the 
recent  cause  of  veterinary  practice,  both  in  France  and 
Euglrmd,  is  tending  to  the  entire  abandonment  of  the  old 
system  ;  according  to  which  every  horse,  whether  anything 
ailed  him  or  not,  was  put  through  two  annual  courses  of 
purgation,  each  of  three  doses,  in  the  Spring  and  Fall,  be- 


APPLICATION   OF  KEMEDIES.  ,  167 

side  having  to  bolt  a  diuretic  ball  fortnightly,  or  oftener, 
according  to  the  whim  of  the  groom,  when  his  kidneys  no 
more  required  stimulation  than  his  hocks  did  blistering. 

A  horse  of  ordinary  size  contains,  on  an  average,  from 
twenty  to  twenty-four  quarts  of  blood,  and  the  loss  to  him 
of  four  quarts  is  not  so  much  as  a  pound,  or  pint,  to  a 
human  being.  In  cases  of  acute  inflammation,  a  horse 
may  be  bled  eight  or  ten  quarts  at  a  time,  or  until  he  lies 
down,  with  advantage;  and  if  the  sj^mptoms  do  not  abate, 
may  be  bled  again  at  intervals  of  an  hour  or  two,  to  an 
extent  which  a  person,  ignorant  how  rapidly  blood  is 
made,  would  suppose  must  drain  the  animal  of  his  life. 
Purgatives,  in  our  opinion,  on  the  other  hand,  should  be 
very  cautiously  administered;  never  when  there  is  any 
inflammation  of  the  lungs  or  bowels ;  very  rarely  when 
there  is  anj^  internal  inflammation ;  and  when  given,  should 
never,  or  hardly  ever,  in  our  judgment,  exceed  five 
drachms  of  new  Barbadoes  aloes.  Injections,  diet,  and 
mashes  are  vastly  superior,  for  general  practice,  to  acute 
p>urgatives,  horses  being  extremely  liable  to  super-purga- 
tion, and  many  valuable  animals  being  lost  in  consequence 
of  it  yearly. 

The  first  branch  of  this  subject  on  which  we  propose  to 
treat,  is  the  early  application  of  remedies  to  horses,  sud- 
denly seized  with  violent  and  acute  diseases,  anticipatory 
to  the  calling  in  of  regular  medical  assistance.  It  is  highly 
necessary  that  this  should  be  done  as  soon  as  the  horse  is 
known  to  be  seized,  and  the  nature  of  his  seizure  is  fully 
ascertained,  since,  in  several  of  the  diseases  to  which  the 
horse  is  most  liable,  the  increase  of  the  malady  is  so 
rapid  that,  if  early  steps  be  not  taken  to  relieve  the  suf- 
ferer, the  evil  becomes  so  firmly  seated  that  the  remedy, 
if  long  delayed,  comes  too  late,  and  an  animal  is  lost 
which  by  timely  assistance  might  have  easily  been  pre- 


168  HOW   TO   PHYSIC   A   HORSE. 

served.  These  ailments,  especially,  are  of  common  occur- 
rence with  the  horse,  of  highly  dangerous  character,  and 
so  rapid  in  thsir  development  and  increase  that,  if  steps 
be  not  taken  for  their  relief  almost  immediately  after  their 
commencement,  all  treatment  will  be  useless; — these  are 
spasmodic  colic,  inflammation  of  the  bowels,  and  inflam- 
mation of  the  lungs. 

The  two  former  of  these  have,  in  their  early  symptoms, 
a  close  resemblance  one  with  the  other ;  and  as  the  treat- 
ment of  the  two  should  be  very  different,  it  is  necessary 
to  be  exceedingly  careful,  and  to  be  well  acquainted  with 
the  diagnosis  of  the  two  ailments  before  attempting  to  treat 
the  patient,  as  a  mistake  might  well  be  fatal,  while  a  delay 
is  almost  surely  so. 

"The  attack  of  colic,"  says  Mr.  Youatt,  "  is  usually  very 
sudden.  There  is  often  not  the  slighest  warning.  The  horse 
begins  to  shift  his  posture,  look  round  at  his  flanks,  paw 
violently,  strike  his  belly  with  his  feet,  lie  down,  roll,  and 
that  frequently  on  his  back.  In  a  few  minutes  the  pain 
seems  to  cease,  the  horse  shakes  himself  and  begins  to 
feed  ;  but  on  a  sudden  the  spasm  returns  more  violently, 
every  indication  of  pain  is  increased,  he  heaves  at  the 
flanks,  breaks  out  in  a  profuse  perspiration,  and  throws 
himself  more  violently  about.  In  the  space  of  an  hour  or 
two  either  the  spasms  begin  to  relax  and  the  remissions 
are  longer  in  duration,  or  the  torture  is  augmented  at 
every  paroxysm,  the  intervals  of  ease  are  fewer  and  less 
marked,  and  inflammation  and  death  supervene." 

As  all  the  more  violent  symptoms  of  this  disease  and 
of  acute  inflammation  of  the  external  coats  of  the  intes* 
tines,  such  as  looking  round  at  the  flanks,  pawing,  kicking 
at  the  bell}^  rolling  violently,  and,  in  a  word,  all  the  man- 
itbstaticMis  of  excessive  pain  are  nearly  identical,  and,  as 
tlio  causes  which  lead  to  the  two  diseases  are  also  nearly 


COLIC. 


169 


the  same,  so  that  one  might  be  liable  to  suspect  the  occur- 
rence of  either,  from  a  knowledge  of  the  antecedents  to 
which  the  horse  has  been  exposed,  it  was  well  done  in 
Youatt  to  present  briefly  in  a  tabular  form  the  distinctions 
between  the  symptoms  of  the  two,  which,  if  carefully  ob- 
served, cannot  be  misunderstood,  and  will  prevent  the  pos- 
sibility of  confusion,  which  might  lead  to  the  most  fatal 
consequences.  We  proceed  to  present  his  table,  accom- 
panied by  his  remark  that  the  treatment  recommended  for 
the  former  (colic)  would  often  be  fatal  in  the  latter : 


COLIC. 

Sudden  in  its  attack,  and  without 
any  warning. 

Pulse  rarely  much  quickened  in  the 
early  period  of  the  disease,  and 
during  the  intervals  of  ease,  but 
evidently  fuller. 

Legs  and  ears  of  natural  temper- 
ature. 

Relief  obtained  from  rubbing  the 
belly. 

Relief  obtained  from  motion. 

Intervals  of  rest  and  ease. 

Strength  scarcely  affected. 


INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  BOWELS. 

Gradual  in  its  approach,  with  pre- 
vious indications  of  fever. 

Pulse  very  much  quickened,  but 
small,  and  often  scarcely  to  be 
felt. 


Legs  and  ears  cold. 


and 


Belly    exceedingly    painful, 

tender  to  the  touch. 
Pain  evidently  increased  by  motion. 
Constant  pain. 
Great  and  evident  weakness. 


Of  these  differences  the  most  strongly  and  decidedly 
marked  are  the  different  affections  of  the  pulse,  the  differ- 
ent conditions  of  the  extremities,  the  remissions  of  the 
pain  in  the  one,  and  the  constant  increase  of  it  in  the 
other,  and  the  extreme  weakness  which  rapidly  comes  on 
in  inflammation,  and  does  not  show  in  colic. 

It  will  be  well,  here,  to  state  that  the  pulse  of  the  horse 
is  most  conveniently  felt  at  the  lower  jaw;  a  little  behind 
the  spot  where  the  submaxillary  artery  and  vein  and  the 
parotid  duct  come  from  under  the  jaw :  in  other  words, 
close  to  the  junction  of  the  head  and  neck.  The  thumb 
should  be  placed  on  the  cheek  externally,  with  the  nail 
upward^  and  the  tips  of  the  fingers  passing  under  and 
8 


170  HOW   TO   PHYSIC  A   HORSE. 

within  the  jaw-bone,  will  readily  feel  the  artery,  and,  by 
compressing  it  against  the  bone,  will  ascertain  not  only 
the  number  of  pulsations,  but  the  manner  in  which  the 
blood  passes,  and  the  quantity.  By  feeling  the  heart, 
through  the  side,  as  is  the  ordinary  practice  of  horsemen, 
nothing  can  be  ascertained  beyond  the  number  of  pulsa- 
tions. 

We  will  here  add  that,  in  temperate  climates,  about 
thirty-six  in  a  minute  is  the  ordinary  beat  of  the  pulse 
in  a  common  or  farmer's  horse,  which  will  be  increased  to 
forty,  or  even  forty-two,  in  thorough-breds.  It  varies  but" 
little  in  horses  of  different  sizes,  but  is  slightly  increased 
in  hot  weather,  and  very  materially  so  in  hot  climates. 
The  pulse  of  the  thorough-bred  horse  is  said  to  range  ten 
higher  in  New  Orleans  than  in  Ne\y  York ;  and  we  can 
readily  believe  this  to  be  the  case,  as  we  have  observed 
the  same  thing  to  occur  when  the  horse  is  kept  in  a  very 
hot  stable.  Sudden  alarm  often  quickens  the  pulse  by  ten 
beats;  wherefore  particular  care  shoudd  be  had  to, go 
up  to  the  patient  as  gently,  and  to  handle  him  as  tenderly 
and  caressingly,  as  possible,  in  order  to  avoid  producing 
this  excitement,  which  will  lead  to  a  false  diagnosis. 

Colic  is  usually  produced  by  sudden  cold,  often  the 
result  of  drinking  cold  water  when  heated;  sometimes 
by  exposure  to  cold  wind,  in  a  draft,  when  heated ;  some- 
times by  overfeeding  on  green  meat,  or  new  corn.  The 
causes  of  inflammation  in  the  bowels  are  somewhat  similar, 
though  not  identical.  Horses  used. to  high  feeding  and 
warm  stabling,  which,  after  sharp  exercise  and  being  for 
some  hours  without  food,  are  exposed  to  cold  wind,  or  are 
allowed  to  drink  freely  of  cold  water,  or  are  drenched 
with  rain,  or  have  their  legs  and  belly  washed  with  cold 
water,  are  almost  sure  to  be  attacked  with  inflammation 
of  the  bowels.    An  overfed  or  overfat  horse,  which  is  sub- 


COLIC.  171 

jected  to  severe  and  long-continued  exertion,  if  his  lungs 
be  weak,  will  be  attacked,  probably  the  same  night,  bj 
inflammation  of  the  lungs ;  if  the  lungs  be  sound,  the  at- 
tack will  be  on  his  bowels  on  the  following  day. 

The  diagnosis  being  made,  and  the  disease  being  fully 
established  to  be  spasmodic  colic,  and  not  inflammation, 
the  treatment  should  be  as  follows :  Give  at  once,  in  a 
drench,  by  a  horn  or  bottle,  three  ounces  of  spirits  of  tur- 
pentine and  an  ounce  of  laudanum  in  a  pint  of  warm  ale, 
the  effect  of  which  will  often  be  instantaneous.  K  these 
ingredients  cannot  be  quickly  obtained,  a  drench  of  hot  ale, 
with  ginger,  a  wine-glass  full  of  gin  and  a  teaspoonful  of 
black  pepper,  with,  if  possible,  the  laudanum  added,  will 
succeed  as  a  substitute.  If  the  paroxysm  returns,  or  if  re- 
lief of  a  decided  kind  do  not  take  place  within  half  an 
hour,  from  four  to  six  quarts  of  blood  may  be  taken,  with 
advantage,  in  order  to  prevent  inflammation.  The  dose  of 
turpentine  should  be  repeated,  and  clysters  of  warm  water, 
with  an  ounce  of  finely  powdered  Barbadoes  aloes  dissolved 
in  them,  should  be  injected,  at  intervals,  until  the  counter- 
irritation  puts  a  stop  to  the  spasms.  For  the  injections,  a 
common  wooden  pipe  with  an  ox  bladder  will  answer,  al- 
though the  patent  syringe  is  far  better.  The  pipe  should  be 
greased  and  introduced  gently  and  tenderly,  great  care  be- 
ing had  not  to  alarm  or  startle  the  animal.  The  opera- 
tion and  effect  of  the  medicines  will  be  promoted  by  gen- 
tle friction  of  the  belly,  with  a  brush  or  hot  flannel  cloth, 
and  by  Avalking  the  horse,  or  trotting  him  very  gently 
about ;  but  all  violence,  or  violent  motions,  must  be  avoided 
as  tending  to  produce  inflammation.  These  remedies, 
which  can  be  procured  with  ease  in  any  village,  almost  in 
any  house,  will  almost  to  a  certainty  remove  the  disease. 
When  relief  is  obtained,  the  horse's  clothes  should  be 
changed,,  which  will  be  found  to  be  saturated  with  sweat ; 


172  irow  TO  PHYSIC  a  horse. 

he  should  be  slightly  cleaned;  warmly  and  dryly  lit- 
tered down,  if  possible,  in  a  loose  box,  and  should  be 
fed,  for  two  or  three  days,  on  warm  bran  mashes,  and  suf- 
fered to  drink  warm  water  only.  It  is  evident  that  the 
above  treatment,  which  is  stimulating,  would  be  probably 
fatal,  as  it  would  aggravate  all  the  worst  features,  in  a  case 
of  inflammation,  which  must  be  treated,  as  nearly  as  pos- 
sible, on  the  opposite  plan — that  is,  antiphlogistically. 

Inflammation  of  the  Bowels. — The  first  step,  in 
decided  cases  where  the  extremities  are  cold  and  the  pulse 
very  quick  and  very  feeble — observe,  here,  that  fifty-five  is 
very  quick,  indicating  considerable  fever,  and  seventy-five 
perilously  quick — is  to  take  eight  or  ten  quarts  of  blood  as 
soon  as  the  malady  appears, — for  there  is  no  other  malady 
that  so  quickly  runs  its  course.  If  this  do  not  relieve  the 
pain,  and  render  the  pulse  more  moderate,  and  fuller,  and 
rounder,  four  or  five  quarts  more  may  be  taken,  without 
any  regard  to  the  weakness  of  the  animal.  That  weak- 
ness is  a  part  of  the  disease,  and,  when  the  inflammation  is 
subdued  by  the  loss  of  blood,  the  weakness  will  disappear. 
We  have  said  that  most  of  the  acute  diseases  of  the  horse 
and  the  man  are  closely  similar,  and  their  treatment  analo- 
gous. In  acute  inflammation  of  the  bowels  there  is  an 
exception.  The  human  practitioner  properly  uses  strong 
purgatives,  in  cases  of  acute  inflammation  of  the  bowels. 
The  irritablility  of  the  horse's  bowels  will  not  allow  their 
exhibition.  The  most  that  can  be  done  is,  to  throw  up 
copious  injections — they  can  hardly  be  too  copious — of 
thin  gruel,  in  which  half  a  pound  of  Epsom  salts,  or  half 
an  ounce  of  Barbadoes  aloes,  has  been  dissolved.  The 
horse  should  be  encouraged  to  drink  freely  of  warm,  thin 
gruel;  and  he  should  have  a  draught,  every  six  hours,  of 
warm  water,  with  from  one  to  two  drachms, — never  more, — 
of  aloes  dissolved  in  it.     Above  all,  the  whole  belly  should 


INFLAMMATION   OF   THE   LUNGS.  173 

be  blistered  as  quickly  as  possible  after  the  nature  of  the 
disease  is  fully  ascertained,  with  tincture  of  cantharides 
well  rubbed  in.  The  legs  should  be  well  bandaged,  to  re- 
store the  circulation  ;  and  the  horse  should  be  warmly 
clothed,  but  the  stable  kept  cool.  No  hay  or  oats  must  be 
allowed  during  the  attack,  but  merely  bran  mashes  and  green 
meat ;  of  the  latter,  especially,  as  much  as  he  will  eat.  As 
the  horse  recovers  a  little  oats  may  be  given,  a  handful  or 
two  at  a  time,  twice  or  thrice  a  day,  but  not  more ;  and 
they  should  be  increased  sparingly  and  gradually.  Clys- 
ters of  gruel  should  be  continued  for  two  or  three  days, 
and  hand -rubbing  and  bandaging  to  restore  the  circulation. 
There  is  another  kind  of  inflammation  of  the  bowels,  which 
attacks  the  inner  or  mucous  membrane,  and  is  produced 
by  super-purgation  and  the  exhibition  of  improper  medi- 
cine in  improper  quantities.  Its  characteristics  are  inces- 
sant purging,  laborious  breathing,  pulse  quick  and  small, 
but  less  so  than  in  the  other  form  of  disease;  and, 
above  all,  the  mouth  is  hot,  and  the  legs  and  ears  warm, 
In  this  disease,  no  food  must  be  allowed,  least  of  all  laxa- 
tive food,  such  as  mashes  or  gxeen  meat ;  but  draughts 
and  clysters  of  gruel,  thin  starch  and  arrow-root  may  be 
given  frequently.  If  the  pain  and  purging  do  not  pass 
away  wdthin  twelve  hours,  astringents  must  be  given.  The 
best  form  is  powdered  chalk  1  oz.,  catechu  {  oz.,  opium  2 
scruples,  in  gruel,  repeated  every  six  hours  till  the  purg- 
ing begins  to  subside,  when  the  doses  should  be  gradually 
decreased  and  discontinued.  Bleeding  is  not  generally 
necessary,  unless  the  inflammation  and  fever  are  excessive. 
The  horse  should  be  kept  warm,  and  his  legs  rubbed  and 
bandaged  as  directed  in  the  former  type  of  the  disease. 

Inflammation  of  the  Lungs. — This  disease,  which 
in  a  state  of  nature  is  almost  unknown  to  the  horse,  is  one 
to  which  in  his  domesticated  state  he  is  most  liable,  and 


174  HOW   TO   PHYSIC  A  HORSE. 

whicli  is  most  fatal  to  him.  It  requires  immediate  and 
most  active  treatment.  It  is  sometimes  sudden  in  its  attack, 
but  is  generally  preceded  by  fever.  The  pulse  is  not  al- 
ways much  quickened,  in  the  first  instance,  but  is  indistinct 
and  depressed.  The  extremities  are  painfully  cold ;  the 
lining  membrane  of  the  nostrils  becomes  intensely  red  ;  the 
breathing  is  quick,  hurried,  and  seems  to  be  interrupted  by 
pain,  or  mechanical  obstruction.  The  horse  stands  stiffly, 
with  his  legs  far  apart,  so  as  to  distend  his  chest  to  the 
utmost,  and  is  singularly  unwilling  to  move,  or  to  lie  down, 
persisting  in  standing  up,  day  after  day  and  night  after 
night :  and  if  at  last  compelled  by  fatigue  to  lie  down,  rises 
again  after  a  moment's  repose.  The  pulse  soon  becomes 
irregular,  indistinct,  and  at  last  almost  imperceptible.  The 
legs  and  ears  assume  a  clay-like,  clammy  coldness, — the 
coldness  of  death.  The  lining  of  the  nostril  turns  purple ; 
the  teeth  are  violently  ground ;  the  horse  persists  in  stand- 
ing, until  he  can  stand  no  longer,  when  he  staggers,  drops 
and  soon  dies. 

For  this  disease,  the  only  remedy  that  can  be  depended 
upon  is  the  lancet.  The  horse  must  be  bled,  not  accord- 
ing to  quantity,  not  only  till  the  pulse  begins  to  rise,  but 
until  it  begins  to  flatter  or  stop,  and  the  animal  begins  to 
faint.  The  operator  should  watch  this  effect,  with  his  fin- 
ger on  the  pulse,  while  the  bleeding  is  in  process.  At 
the  end  of  six  hours,  if  the  horse  still  persist  in  standing 
and  the  laborious  breathing  still  continue,  the  bleeding 
should  be  repeated  to  the  same  extent.  This  will  generally 
succeed  in  conquering  the  strength  of  the  disease.  If  a 
third  bleeding  be  necessary,  as  is  sometimes  the  case,  it 
mast  not  be  carried  beyond  four  or  five  quarts,  lest  not 
only  the  disease,  but  the  recuperative  power  be  subdued. 
After  this,  if  the  symptoms  return,  successive  bleedings 
to  the  extent  of  two  or  three  quarts  should  be  used,  to 


INFLAMMATION   OF  THE   LUNGS.  175 

prevent  ttie  reestablislimeDt  of  the  disease.  The  instru- 
ment for  bleeding  should  be  a  broad-shouldered  thumb 
lancet,  and  the  stream  of  blood  should  be  full  and  strong. 
Some  of  the  blood,  from  each  bleeding,  should  be  set 
aside  in  a  glass  tumbler,  and  suffered  to  grow  cold,  in  or- 
der to  note  the  thickness  of  the  buff-colored,  adhesive  coat 
which  will  appear  on  the  top  of  it,  and  which  indicates  the 
degree  of  inflammation  at  the  time  the  blood  was  drawn. 
We  have  seen  it  occupy  above  one  half  the  depth  of  the 
tumbler.  As  the  condition  of  the  blood  improves,  and 
the  symptoms  of  the  animal  decrease,  the  bleeding  may 
be  gradually  discontinued. 

The  whole  of  the  horse's  chest  and  sides,  up  as  far  as  to 
the  elbows,  should  dow  be  thoroughly  blistered,  the  hair 
having  been  previously  closely  shaved,  with  an  ointment  of 
one  part  of  Spanish  flies,  four  of  lard,  and  one  of  rosin, 
well  rubbed  in.  In  making  the  ointment,  the  rosin  and 
lard  should  be  melted  together,  and  the  flies  then  added. 

A  horse  with  inflammation  of  the  lungs  must  never  be 
actively  purged ;  the  bowels  and  lungs  act  so  strongly  in 
sympathy,  that  inflammation  of  the  former  would  surely 
supervene,  and  prove  fatal.  The  horse  must  be  back-raked, 
and  clystered  with  warm  gruel  containing  eight  ounces  of 
Epsom  salts.  Castor  oil  must  never  be  given ;  it  is  a  most 
dangerous  medicine  to  the  horse.  Doses  of  nitre,  digitalis 
and  tartar  emetic,  in  the  proportion  of  three  ounces  of  the 
first,  one  of  the  second  and  one  and  a  halfof  the  third  may 
be  given,  morning  and  evening,  until  the  animal  begins  to 
amend,  when  the  dose  may  be  reduced  to  one-half.  The 
horse  must  be  warmly  clothed,  but  kept  in  a  cool  box. 
As  he  recovers,  his  skin  should  be  gently  rubbed  with  a 
brush,  if  it  do  not  irritate  him ;  but  his  legs  must  be  con- 
stantly and  thoroughly  hand-rubbed  and  bandaged.  He 
should  not  be  coaxed  to  eat,  but  may  have  a  little  hay  to 


176  HOW   TO   PHYSIC  A   HORSE. 

amuse  him,  cold  maslies  and  green  meat,  but  on  no  account 
a  particle  of  oats.  Eight-and-fortj  hours  generally  de- 
cides the  question  of  death  or  life.  But  in  case  of  recov- 
ery, it  is  necessary  long  to  watch  for  a  relapse,  which  is  of 
frequent,  one  might  say  of  general,  occurrence.  It  is  to  be 
met  at  once  by  the  same  energetic  treatment.  Andnovv,  one 
word  to  the  owner  of  a  horse  which  has  had  one  bad  attack 
of  inflammation,  either  of  the  lungs  or  of  the  bowels.  Get 
rid  of  him  as  soon  as  possible!  It  is  ten  to  one  that 
he  will  have  another,  and  another,  and,  as  in  the  former 
instance,  end  by  becoming  broken-winded, — in  the  latter 
by  bemg  useless,  from  a  nearly  chronic  state  of  the  disease. 
The  second  class  of  ailments,  which  every  horse-keeper 
ought  to  be  prepared  to  treat  himself,  without  assistance, 
are  those  natural  and  constantly  occurring  cases  which  are 
almost  habitually  present  in  large  stables  or  farming  estab- 
lishments, and  in  aid  of  which  to  call  in  a  veterinary  sur- 
geon on  every  occasion  would  be  both  an  absurd  expense 
and  a  useless  waste  of  time.  Such  are,  for  instance,  costive- 
ness,  common  cough,  bronchitis,  or  catarrhal  disease,  stran- 
gles or  colt-distemper,  worms,  difficulty  in  staling,  and  some 
others,  which  any  man  who  keeps  a  horse  ought  to  be  able 
to  treat  successfully  himself,  without  any  advice,  and  with 
ordinary  medicines,  easily  procurable  from  any  druggist. 
Condition,  in  its  proper  sense,  is  more  dependent  on  proper 
and  systematic  feeding,  exercising,  clothing  and  lodging, 
than  on  medicine  ;  and  if  a  horse  be  of  good,  sound  con- 
stitution, and  be  judiciously  fed,  regularly  worked,  warmly 
yet  not  too  warmly  clothed  and  stabled,  in  a  building  prop- 
erly ventilated  and  aerated;  and,  above  all,  if  he  be  kept 
scrupulously  and  religiously  clean,  there  will  for  him  be 
but  little  need  of  medicine  of  any  kind.  From  ill-con- 
structed stables  arise  half  the  worst  diseases,  those  for 
instance  of  the  lungs,  from  want  of  ventilation ;  many  of 


BLEEDING.  177 

those  of  the  eyes,  from  the  excess  of  ammoniacal  vapors 
and  unnatural  darkness ;  many  of  those  of  the  feet,  as 
cracked  heels,  thrushes,  grease — 'which  in  America  is 
known  as  scratches — from  filth  and  neglect;  and  most  of 
those  of  the  bowels,  and  the  bowels  and  lungs  combined, 
from  bad  food,  or  good  food  badly  administered.  Still 
diseases  will  and  do  arise  from  other  causes,  in  the  best 
stables,  and  among  the  best-attended  horses.  And  again, 
they  do  arise,  and  when  arising  must  be  dealt  with  medi- 
cally, owing  to  the  causes  above  enumerated. 

It  may  be  well  in  this  place  to  describe  briefly  the  most 
approved  modes  of  bleeding  and  administering  medicine. 
The  former  operation  is  performed  in  the  jugular  vein ;  the 
hair  is  smoothed,  along  the  course  of  the  vein,  with  the 
moistened  finger ;  then,  if  the  fleam  be  used — which,  in  our 
opinion,  ought  to  be  discarded — -with  the  third  and  little 
fingers  of  the  left  hand,  which  holds  the  fleam,  pressure  is 
made  upon  the  vein  sufficient  to  bring  it  into  full  view  ;  the 
fleam  is  to  be  placed  on  the  vein,  in  the  direct  line  of  its 
course,  precisely  over  the  centre  of  it,  not  exactly  touching 
it,  but  as  near  to  it  as  possible  without  doing  so.  A  smart 
blow  is  then  given  to  the  back  of  the  fleam  with  an  instru- 
ment called  the  blood-stick,  which  gives  it  force  sufficient 
to  pierce  the  skin  and  open  the  vessel.  A  much  neater 
way,  however,  is  to  use  a  broad-bladed  lancet.  The  vein 
is  secured  and  pressed  sufficiently  to  bring  it  into  full  view 
and  cause  it  to  swell,  with  the  divided  fingers  of  the  left 
hand,  when  the  point  of  the  lancet  is  sent  in,  without  an 
effort,  so  as  to  cut  slightly  upward  and  to  open  a  clean  and 
sufficient  aperture.  By  this  method  the  danger  of  cutting 
the  neck  foul  without  touching  the  vein,  owing  to  the 
horse  starting  at  the  moment  the  blow  is  given  upon  the 
fleam,  and  the  yet  worse  danger  of  dividing  both  sides  of 
the  vein,  are  both  avoided.  When  enough  blood  has  been 
8* 


178  HOW   TO    PHYSIC   A   HOKSE. 

taken,  the  edges  of  the  wound  should  be  brought  smoothly 
together,  and  secured  by  a  sharp  pin,  around  which  a  little 
tow  or  a  few  hairs  of  the  horse  should  be  twisted.  The 
blood,  while  it  is  flowing,  should  be  made,  by  a  gentle 
pressure  on  the  vein  below  the  aperture,  to  spring  out  in  a 
clear,  full  jet,  and  to  fall  into  the  centre  of  the  vessel  used 
to  receive  it.  If  it  be  allowed  to  trickle  down  the  sides  of 
the  pail,  it  will  not  undergo  the  changes  by  which  the 
extent  of  inflammation  may  be  judged.  The  operator 
should  accurately  know  the  size  of  the  vessel  he  uses,  so  as 
to  calculate  the  flow  of  blood. 

In  giving  medicine,  if  balls  be  used,  they  should  never 
weigh  above  an  ounce  and  a  half,  or  be  above  an  inch  in 
diameter,  and  three  in  length.  The  horse  should  be  lashed 
in  the  stall,  the  tongue  should  be  drawn  gently  out  with 
the  left  hand  on  the  off  side  of  the  mouth,  and  fixed  there, 
not  by  continuing  to  pull  at  it,  but  by  pressing  the  fingers 
against  the  side  of  the  lower  jaw.  The  ball  is  then  taken 
between  the  tips  of  the  fingers  of  the  right  hand,  the  arm 
being  bared  and  passed  rapidly  up  the  mouth,  as  near  the 
})alate  as  possible,  until  it  reaches  the  root  of  the  tongue, 
when  it  is  delivared  with  a  slight  jerk,  the  hand  is  with- 
drawn, and  the  tongue  being  released  the  ball  is  forced 
down  into  the  oesophagus.  Its  passage  should  be  watched 
down  the  left  side  of  the  throat,  and  if  it  do  not  pass  im- 
mediately, a  slight  tap  under  the  chin  will  easily  cause  the 
horse  to  swallow  it.  The  only  safe  purgative  for  a  horse 
is  Barbadoes  aloes,  or  the  flour  of  the  Croton  bean,  for 
some  peculiar  purposes ;  but  its  drastic,  nature  renders  it 
undesirable  as  a  general  aperient.  When  aloes  are  used, 
care  should  be  taken  to  have  them  new,  as  they  speedily 
lose  their  power,  and  they  should  be  freshly  mixed.  Yery 
mild  doses  only  should  be  used  ;  four  or  five  drachms  are 
amply  sufficient,  if  the  horse  have  been  prepared,  as  he 


COSTIVENESS.  179 

should  b>^,  by  being  fed  for  two  days  at  least,  entirely  on 
maslies,  wLicli  will  cause  a  small  dose  to  have  a  beneficial 
effect,  equal  to  double  the  quantity  administered  to  a 
horse  not  duly  prepared  for  it.  The  immense  doses  of 
eio-ht,  nine,  ten  and  even  twelve  drachms,  which  were 
formerly  in  vogue,  and  which  are  still  favored  b}^  grooms, 
ostlers  and  carters,  are  utterly  exploded ;  and  it  is  well 
known  that  eight  or  nine  good  fluid  evacuations  are  all 
that  can  be  desired,  and  far  safer  than  twice' the  number. 

Four  and  a  half  drachms  of  Barbadoes  aloes,  with  olive 
or  linseed  oil  and  molasses  sufficient  to  form  a  mass  in  the 
proportion  of  eight  of  the  aloes  to  one  of  the  oil  and  three 
of  the  molasses,  is  the  best  general  ball,  though  often  four 
drachms  given  after  a  sufficiency  of  mashes  or  green  food 
will  accomplish  all  that  is  needed  or  desirable.  Castor  oil 
is  a  most  dangerous  and  uncertain  medicine.  Linseed  oil 
is  not  much  better.  Olive  oil  is  safe,  but  weak.  Epsom 
salts  is  inefficient,  except  in  enormous  doses,  and  is  then 
dangerous.  It  is,  however,  excellent,  given  in  clysters 
of  weak  gruel;  which,  by  the  way,  except  where  very 
searching  and- thorough  purging  is  required,  as  in  cases  of 
mange  or  grease,  is  by  far  the  safest,  most  agreeable  and 
mildest  way  of  purging  the  horse,  and  evacuating  his 
bowels.  Where,  however,  his  intestines  are  over-loaded 
with  fat,  Avhere  he  shows  signs  of  surfeit,  or  where  it  is 
necessary  to  prepare  him  to  undergo  some  great  change  of 
system,  as  from  a  long  run  at  grass  to  a  hot  stable,  or  vice 
versa,  a  mild  course  of  two  or  three  doses  of  physic,  with  a 
•clear  interval  of  a  week  between  the  setting  of  one  dose 
and  the  giving  of  another,  is  necessary,  and  cannot  be  prop- 
erly dispensed  with. 

CosTiVENESS. — Ordinary  cases  can  generally  be  con- 
quered without  medicine,  by  diet,  such  as  hop  or  bran 
mashes,  gre^n  meat  and  carrots  ;  but  where  it  is  obstinate, 


180  HOW   TO   PHYSIC  A  HORSE. 

the  rectum  sliould  be  cleared  of  dry  fieces  by  passing  the 
naked  arm,  well  greased,  up  the  anus ;  and  the  bowels 
should  be  then  thoroughly  evacuated  by  clysters  of  thin 
gruel,  with  half  an  ounce  of  Barbadoes  aloes,  or  half  a 
pound  of  Epsom  salts  dissolved  in  it.  If  the  patent 
syringe  be  used,  the  injection  will  reach  the  colon  and 
caecum  and  dispose  them  also  to  evacuate  their  contents. 

Common  Cough  is  generally  subdued  without  much 
difficulty,  though  it  often  becomes  of  most  serious  conse- 
quence if  neglected.  It  is  accompanied  by  a  heightened 
pulse ;  a  slight  discharge  from  the  nose  and  eyes,  a  rough 
coat,  and  a  diminished  appetite,  being  its  symptoms.  The 
horse  should  be  kept  warm,  fed  on  mashes,  and  should 
have  a  dose  or  two  of  medicine.  If  the  cough  be  very 
obstinate,  bleeding  may  be  necessary. 

Bronchitis  is  cough,  with  catarrh  extending  to  the  en- 
trance of  the  lungs  superadded.  It  is  characterized  by  a 
quick,  hard  breathing,  and  a  peculiar  wheezing,  followed 
and  relieved  by  coughing  up  mucus.  It  must  be  treated 
by  bleeding,  though  by  no  means  so  copious  as  in  cases  of 
inflammation  of  the  lungs.  Kepeated  bleedings  of  four  or 
five  quarts,  at  intervals,  until  relief  is  obtained,  are  prefer- 
able to  the  abstraction  of  large  quantities  at  once.  The- 
chest  should  be  blistered,  and  digitalis,  nitre  and  tartar 
emetic  exhibited,  as  with  inflammation  of  the  lungs ;  bron- 
chitis, if  neglected,  is  apt  to  degenerate  into  thick  wind. 

Strangles,  or  colt-distemper,  is  a  disease  which  shows 
itself  in  all  young  horses,  and  from  which,  w^hen  they  have 
once  passed  through  its  ordeal,  the}^  have  no  more  to  fear. 
It  is  preceded  by  some  derangement  of  circulation,  quick- 
ening of  the  pulse,  some  fever,  cough,  and  sore  throat.  The 
parts  around  the  throat  swell,  the  maxillary  glands  are 
swollen  and  tender,  and  sometimes  the  parotids  also.  The 
animal  refuses  to  drink,  and  often  declines  his  food.    There 


WOEMS — DISEASKS    OF   THE   BLADDER.  181 

is  a  flow  of  saliva  from  the  mouth  and  a  semi-purulent 
discharge  from  the  nose.  The  jaws,  throat  and  glands  of 
the  neck  should  be  poulticed  with  steaming  mashes,  the 
skin  stimulated  by  means  of  a  liquid  blister,  and  the  head 
steamed,  in  order  to  promote  suppuration.  As  soon  as 
fluctuation  can  be  perceived,  the  swelling  should  be  lanced, 
and  a  rowel  introduced,  to  keep  the  abscess  open  and  the 
discharge  flowing  for  a  few  days.  The  animal  should  have 
walking  exercise,  and  be  treated  with  green  food,  until  the 
symptoms  abate,  when  he  will  require  liberal  and  generous 
food  to  recruit  his  strength. 

Worms  are  sometimes  troublesome  to  a  horse,  but  in  a 
far  less  degree  than  is  generally  supposed.  Botts  have 
long  since,  been  proved  to  be  perfectly  harmless  while 
they  are  within  the  stomach, — all  the  stories  of  their  eating 
through  its  coats  being  pure  myths,  although  they  are  very 
often  troublesome  after  they  have  passed  out  of  the  cesoph- 
aofus  and  rectum  and  be  of  in  to  adhere  to  the  orifice  of 
the  anus.  Common  purgatives  will  often  bring  away  vast 
numbers  of  the  long,  white  worm,  teres  lumhricus,  which 
occasionally,  when  existing  in  great  numbers,  consume 
too  large  a  proportion  of  the  animal's  food,  and  produce  a 
tight  skin,  a  tucked-up  belly,  and  a  rough  coat.  Calomel 
should  never  be  given,  as  it  too  frequently  is,  for  the  re- 
moval of  these  worms,  which  will  readily  yield  to  balls  of 
two  drachms  of  tartar  emetic,  one  scruple  of  ginger,  with 
molasses  and  linseed  oil  quantum  suff.,  given  alternate 
mornings  half  an  hour  before  feeding  time.  The  smaller 
worm,  ascaris,  which  often  causes  serious  irritation  about 
the  fundament,  is  best  removed  by  injecting  a  quart  of 
linseed  oil,  or  an  ounce  of  aloes  dissolved  in  warm  water, 
which  is  a  most  effectual  remedy. 

Diseases  of  the  Bladder  are  many,  serious,  and  often 
mistreated.     They  require,  however,  so  much  skill  and  so 


182  now  TO  PHYSIC  a  horse. 

accurate  a  diagnosis,  that  none  bat  a  regular  practitioner 
should  i^retend  to  treat  them.  Simple  difficulty  of  staling 
can  generally  be  relieved  by  cleansing  the  sheath  with  the 
hand,  and  giving  gentle  doses  of  nitre.  These  are  most  of 
the  simpler  diseases,  Avhich  may  be  simply  and  successfully 
treated  at  home,  and  with  which  every  horse-keeper  ought 
to  be  at  least  superficially  and  generally  acquainted.  AVc 
shall  touch  upon  the  subject  of  accidents,  strains,  simple 
lameness,  contusions,  and  the  like,  which  can  often  be  per- 
fectly cured  by  cold  lotions,  or  simple,  warm  f  ^nentations, 
without  any  further  or  more  difficult  process, — though  igno- 
rant persons  make  much  of  them,  as  if  their  cure  proved 
marvelous  skill,  and  required  magnificent  appliances. 

Before  proceeding  to  the  consideration  of  simple  acci- 
dents and  their  treatment,  we  shall  devote  a  few  words  to  an 
affection  of  the  feet,  or,  to  speak  more  correctly,  heels,  which 
although  not  exactly  an  accident,  is  not  a  natural  disease, 
but  arises  from  filth,  neglect,  cold,  wet,  and  the  omission 
to  clean  and  dry  the  feet  and  legs  of  the  horse,  after  work 
and  exposure  to  weather.  It  has  been  rightly  called  the 
disgrace,  as  it  is  the  bane,  of  inferior  stables,  both  in  the 
city  and  the  country,  but  more  commonly  in  the  latter, 
where,  to  pay  any  attention  to  the  legs  and  feet  of  a  farm- 
horse,  is  an  almost  unheard-of  act  of  chivalric  Quixotism. 
This  is  the  ailment  known  in  England  as  "the  grease,"  in 
the  United  States,  generally,  as  "  the  scratches."  It  is 
perfectly  easj^  to  be  prevented,  and  easy  to  be  cured  if 
taken  in  the  first  instance ;  but  if  neglected  and  allowed 
to  become  virulent,  is  nearly  incurable. 

Grease. — The  first  appearance  of  "grease,"  wdiich  is 
caused  by  the  feet  and  heels  being  left  wet  after  work  in 
muddy  soil,  and  exposed  to  a  draft  of  cold  air,  is  a  dry  and 
scurfy  state  of  the  skin,  with  redness,  heat  and  itching.  If 
neglected,  the  hair  drops  off,  the  heels  swell,  the  skin  as- 


SCRATCHES,    OR   GREASE.  183 

sumes  a  glazed  appearance,  is  covered  with  pustules,  cracks 
open,  and  emits  a  thin,  glairy  discharge,  which  soon  becomes 
very  offensive.  In  the  last,  worst,  and  incurable  stage,  the 
leg,  half-way  to  the  hock,  is  covered  with  thick,  horny  scabs, 
divided  into  lozenge-shaped  lumps  by  deep  cracks,  whence 
issues  an  extremely  offensive  matter.  In  this  stage,  the 
disease  is  called  "grapy  heels,"  and  is  scarcely  curable. 
In  the  first  stage,  all  that  is  necessary  is  frequent  washing 
with  tepid  water  and  Castile  soap,  and  the  application  of  a 
flannel  bandage,  evenly  applied  over  the  whole  limb, 
moistened  with  warm  water  and  allowed  to  dry  on  the 
part.  An  ointment  of  one  drachm  of  sugar  of  lead  in  an 
ounce  of  lard,  will  supple,  soften  and  relieve  the  parts. 
The  cracks  may  be  washed  with  a  solution  of  four  ounces 
of  alum  in  a  pint  of  water,  which  will  in  most  cases  suf- 
fice. A  dose  of  medicine  is  now  desirable,  for  which  the 
horse  should  be  well  prepared  by  the  administration  of 
bran-mashes,  as  before  advised,  for  a  couple  of  days ;  after 
which,  a  ball  of  four  or  five  drachms  of  Barbadoes  aloes 
will  suffice.  An  injection  will  not  answer  in  this  case,  as 
the  object  is,  not  to  empty  the  bowels,  but  to  cool  the  sys- 
tem. The  horse  should  be  fed  on  mashes,  carrots,  and 
green  meat ;  oats,  Indian  corn,  and  high  food  of  all  kinds, 
are  to  be  avoided  as  too  heating. 

When  the  disease  has  reached  the  second  stage,  the 
physicing  must  be  persevered  in  for  three  doses,  with  the 
regular  intervals  ;  carrot  poultices  must  be  applied  to  the 
heels.  This  is  best  done  by  drawing  an  old  stocking, 
minus  the  foot,  over  the  horse's  hoof,  confining  it  around 
the  fetlock  joint  with  a  loose  bandage,  and  filling  it  from 
above  with  carrots,  boiled  and  mashed  into  a  soft  pulp. 
This  mass  should  be  applied  tolerably  hot,  and  repeated 
daily  for  three  days.  When  removed,  the  heels  should  be 
anoint  ^  1   with  an   oititment  of  one   part  of   rosin,  three 


184  HOW  TO  PHYSIC  a  horse. 

parts  of  lard,  melted  together,  and  one  part  of  calamine 
powder,  added  when  the  first  mixture  is  cooling.  The 
cracks  should  be  persistently  washed  with  the  alum  lotion, 
and  the  bandage  applied  whenever  the  poultices  are  not 
on  the  part.  The  benefit  of  carrot  poultices  for  all  affec- 
tions where  there  is  fever,  swelling  and  a  pustular  condi- 
tion of  the  skin,  cannot  be  over-rated.  Stocked  legs  and 
capped  hocks  we  have  seen  completely  cured  by  them ; 
and,  on  one  occasion,  at  least,  we  have  known  incipient 
farcy  to  give  way  before  their  emollient  and  healing  influ- 
ence. Where  "the  grease"  has  degenerated  into  "the 
grapes,"  the  aid  of  a  veterinary  surgeon  must  be  invoked; 
but  he  will  rarely  succeed,  as  the  ailment  is  now  all  but 
incurable.  It  is,  however,  only  the  height  of  neglect  which 
ever  allows  the  ailment  to  degenerate  into  this  filthy  and 
malignant  stage  of  disease. 

Thrush. — Among  the  more  common  of  the  simple 
ailments  of  the  foot  is  that  known  as  "thrush."  This 
is  a  discharge  of  offensive  matter  from  the  cleft  of  the 
frog,  produced  by  inflammation  of  the  lower  surface  of 
the  sensible  frog.  In  the  fore  feet,  it  is  often  the  con- 
sequence of  contraction  of  the  hoofs.  It  constitutes  a 
legal  unsoundness,  and  is  generally,  although  not  always, 
accompanied  by  lameness.  Any  moderately  astringent  ap- 
plication is  of  advantage,  but  it  must  not  be  of  too  caustic 
a  nature.  Common  segyptiacum,  or  honey  boiled  with 
vinegar  and  verdigris,  is  a  good  liniment ;  but  the  best  of 
all  applications  is  a  paste,  composed  of  two  ounces  of  blue 
and  one  of  white  vitriol,  powdered  as  finely  as  possible, 
and  rubbed  down  with  one  pound  of  tar  and  two  of  lard ; 
a  pledget  of  tow  covered  with  this  should  be  introduced 
into  the  cleft  of  the  frog,  as  far  as  is  possible,  without  un- 
due force,  every  niglit,  and  removed  before  the  horse  goes 
to  work  in  the  morning.     The  feet  should  be  kept  moist 


BROKEN   KNEES.  185 

by  being  stuffed  nigbtly  with  equal  parts  of  tar,  cow-dung 
and  soft  clay. 

A  very  common  and  dangerous  accident  to  tbe  foot 
arises  from  pricking  the  hoof,  by  awkward  driving  of  the 
nails  in  shoeing,  either  through  the  horny  crust  of  the 
foot  into  the  sensible  flesh,  or  so  near  to  it  as  to  give 
acute  pain  and  produce  violent  lameness.  When  a  horse 
falls  lame  immediately  after  shoeing,  the  foot  should  be 
carefully  examined,  in  order  to  see  if  this  be  not  the  cause. 
If  it  be  so,  the  seat  of  the  injury  will  often  be  detected  by 
a  sensible  heat  and  inflammation  of  the  injured  part;  if 
not,  on  tapping  the  hoof  externally  all  round  with  a  ham- 
mer, the  animal  will  flinch  when  the  hammer  is  struck 
opposite  to  or  above  the  puncture.  The  shoe  must  then 
be  withdrawn,  the  nail  which  has  done  the  mischief  must 
be  removed,  the  puncture  must  be  opened  out  and  enlarged 
by  paring  away  the  horn  quite  down  to  the  quick,  when  a 
pledget  of  tow,  dipped  in  Friar's  balsam,  should  be  inserted 
into  the  puncture.  The  feet  must  be  kept  cool  and  moist, 
by  stuffing  them,  as  described  above,  and  the  cure,  beyond 
this,  must  be  left  to  time  and  rest  to  accomplish. 

Broken  Knees. — In  cases  of  knees  broken  by  a  fall, 
the  wound  should  be  carefully  washed  with  tepid  water ; 
all  extraneous  matter,  as  earth,  sand,  or  gravel,  must  be 
carefully  removed ;  any  ragged  edges  of  skin  should  be 
clipped  off  with  a  pair  of  sharp  scissors ;  a  pad  of  linen, 
dipped  in  Friar's  balsam,  should  be  applied,  and  kept  in 
its  place  by  a  moderately  tight  bandage.  The  wound 
should  be  washed  daily  with  tepid  water ;  if  there  be 
much  swelling  or  inflammation,  it  may  be  well  fomented, 
but  not  poulticed,  as  it  is  an  object  to  prevent,  not  to 
encourage,  suppuration.  But  all  hot  oils,  astringents,  or 
stimulating  applications  of  any  kind,  which  grooms  are 
almost   sure   to   recommend,    and   to   apply  contrary  to 


TB6  HOW   TO   PHYSIC  A  HORSE. 

orders  if  not  watched,  must  be  avoided  as  one  would  avoid 
poison. 

The  treatment  for  over-reach,  tread,  or  wounds  produced 
by  injuring  one  foot  by  the  caulks  of  the  other,  are  to  be 
treated  precisely  in  the  same  manner  as  broken  knees. 

For  all  strains,  wrenches,  or  contusions,  where  the  skin 
is  not  broken,  hot  fomentations  of  vinegar  and  water,  ap- 
plied b}^  means  of  flannel  bandages,  and  constantly  re- 
peated, are  the  best  possible  treatment.  Where  there  is 
much  swelling  and  acute  inflammation,  linseed,  turnip,  or 
carrot  poultices  may  be  applied  with  advantage ;  and  the 
parts  should  be  kept  tightly  bandaged,  when  not  under 
other  treatment.  "When  the  swelling  and  inflammation 
have  passed,  but  weakness  and  lameness  continue,  the 
part  should  be  wrapped  nightly  with  a  close,  but  not 
tight,  Harpocrates  bandage  of  cotton  cloth,  saturated  in 
cold  water,  and  above  that  tightly  swathed  in  a  double 
flannel  bandage.  This  treatment,  if  resolutely  persevered 
in,  will,  nine  times  out  of  ten,  remove  the  injury.  If 
it  do  not  so,  the  veterinary  surgeon  must  be  called  in, 
and  blistering,  or  other  stronger  means,  resorted  to.  But 
these  measures  should  not  be  tried  until  the  disease  is  be- 
coming chronic,  and  until  all  inflammation  is  at  end. 

It  is  believed,  that  if  applied  carefully  and  with  con- 
siderate judgment,  the  above-described  simple  remedies 
will  be  found  all-sufficient  for  the  simple  ailments  and 
simple  accidents  mentioned ;  and  they  can  all  be  applied 
from  materials  to  be  found  in  every  house,  and  by  any  one 
with  ordinary  sense  and  common  judgment.  For  all  more 
serious  accidents  and  complicated  disorders,  good  medical 
treatment  is  actually  necessary ;  and,  in  such  cases,  it  is 
even  greater  folly  to  attempt  home  treatment,  than  it  is 
not  to  attempt  it  in  such  cases  as  we  have  referred  to. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

FARRIERY,    ETC. 

DEFINITION     OP     FARRIERY — CASTRATION — ^DOCKING     AND     NICKING— BLOOD- 
LETTING—TREATMENT    OP    STRAINS  AND  WOUNDS — GALLS  OP  THE    SKIN — 

CRACKED    HEEfiS— CLIPPING  AND   SINGEING ADMrNISTERLN"*G     MEDICINES — 

DISEASES   OP  THE   PEET. 

By  larrierj  we  generally  understand  the  performance  of 
those  common  operations  which  do  not  require  the  aid  of 
a  Veterinary  Surgeon,  but  may  be  practiced,  with  pretty 
good  success,  by  men  of  practical  experience,  who  have 
little  or  no  scientific  knowledge  of  the  anatomy  and  phys- 
iology of  the  horse.  It  is  true  that  yerj  many,  if  not  all 
of  these,  would  be  performed  much  better  by  a  skilled 
Veterinary  Surgeon,  but  they  are  of  such  a  character  that 
his  services  are  not  absolutely  essential.  These  operations 
are  chiefly  such  as  affect  only  the  external  parts  and  organs 
of  the  animal ;  and  they  may  be  safely  entrusted  to  any 
person,  who  has  had  a  fair  amount  of  experience  in  the 
management  of  sick  horse-flesh.  It  is  to  be  premised, 
however,  that  very  few  of  those  smiths  on  whose  signs 
there  appears,  "  Horse  Shoer  and  Farrier ^''^  are  better  than 
quacks  into  whose  hands  it  would  not  be  safe  to  place  the 
control  of  the  simplest  case. 

As  a  general  rule,  ever}?'  horse  owner  should,  if  possi- 
ble, appeal  only  to  skilled  veterinary  surgeon?,  for  any 
surgical  operation,  no  matter  how  trifling,  of  Avhich  his 
horse  may  stand  in  need.  Where  he  has  to  depend  on  the 
services  of  an  uneducated  country  farrier,  he  should  take 
pains  to  inform  himself,  as  far  as  lies  in  his  power,  of  all 

[187] 


188  FARRIERY,    ETC. 

the  conditions  on  which  the  difficulty  in  question,  and  the 
mode  of  curing  it,  depends ;  this  will  enable  him  at  least 
to  prevent  much  injury  which  an  ignorant  quack  might 
occasion,  if  allowed  to  have  entirely  his  own  way. 

CASTRATION. 

This  operation  is,  of  course,  a  very  delicate  one,  and 
should  never  be  attempted,  on  a  living  subject,  except  by 
a  person  of  experience  and  skill. 

The  following  directions  are  given  by  Mr.  Youatt : 

"  The  j^eriod  at  which  this  operation  may  be  best  per- 
formed depends  much  on  the  breed  and  form  of  the  colt, 
and  the  purpose  for  which  he  is  destined.  For  the  com- 
mon agricultural  horse,  the  age  of  four  or  five  months  will 
be  the  most  proper  time,  or,  at  least,  before  he  is  weaned. 
Few  horses  are  lost  Avhen  cut  at  that  age.  Care,  however, 
should  be  taken,  that  the  weather  is  not  too  hot  nor  the 
flies  too  numerous. 

"If  the  horse  is  designed  either  for  the  carriage  or  for 
heavy  draught,  the  farmer  should  not  think  of  castrating 
him  until  he  is  at  least  a  twelvemonth  old;  and,  even 
then,  the  colt  should  be  carefully  examined.  If  he  is  thin 
and  spare  about  the  neck  and  shoulders,  and  low  in  the 
withers,  he  will  materially  improve  by  remaining  uncut 
another  six  months;  but  if  his  fore-quarters  are  fairly 
developed  at  the  age  of  a  twelvemonth,  the  operation 
should  not  be  delayed,  lest  he  become  heavy  and  gross 
before,  and  perhaps  has  begun  too  decidedly  to  have  a  will 
of  his  own.  No  specific  age,  then,  can  be  fixed ;  but  the 
castration  should  be  performed  rather  late  in  the  spring 
or  early  in  the  autumn,  when  the  air  is  temperate,  and 
particularly  when  the  weather  is  dry. 

"No  preparation  is  necessary  for  the  sucking  colt,  bat 
it  may  be  prudent  to  bleed  and  to  physic  one  of  more  ad- 


CASTRATION.  189 

vanced  age.  In  the  majority  of  cases,  no  after  treatment 
-will  be  necessary,  except  that  the  animal  should  be  shel- 
tered from  intense^heat,  and  more  particularly  from  wet." 

Moderate  exercise  taken  in  grazing  will  be  preferable  to 
perfect  inaction.  The  old  method  of  pinning  the  scrotmn 
(testicle  bag)  on  either  side,  and  cutting  off  the  testicles, — 
preventing  bleeding  by  a  temporary  compression  of  the 
vessels  while  they  are  seared  with  a  hot  iron, — must  be 
abandoned;,  and  there  is  no  necessity  for  this  extra  pain 
when  the  spermatic  cord,  (the  blood  vessels,  and  the  nerve) 
is  compressed  between  two  pieces  of  wood,  as  tightly  as  in 
a  vice,  and  there  left  till  the  following  day,  or  until  the 
testicle  drops  off. 

Another  method  of  castration  is  by  torsion.  An  incision 
is  made  into  the  scrotum,  and  the  vas  deferens  is  exposed 
and  divided.  The  artery  is  then  seized  with  a  pair  of 
forceps  contrived  for  the  purpose,  and  twisted  six  or  seven 
times  around.  It  retracts  without  untwisting  the  coils,  and 
the  bleeding  ceases ;  the  testicle  is  removed,  and  there  is  no 
sloughing,  or  danger.  The  most  painful  part  of  the  opera- 
tion, that  with  the  firing  iron  or  the  clamp,  is  avoided, 
and  the  wound  readily  heals. 

Mr.  Spooner,  the  editor  of  Youatt's  works,  recommends 
the  use  of  chloroform,  and  says  that  he  has  performed  the 
operation  in  seven  minutes,  without  any  pain  to  the 
animal. 

DOCKINa  AND  NICKING. 

These  barbarous  methods  of  depriving  the  horse  of  his 
natural  form  and  appearance,  in  order  to  make  him  con- 
form to  the  fashion  of  the  time,  is,  fortunately,  very  fast 
going  into  disuse.  If  the  tail  of  the  horse  were  given  to 
him  for  no  good  purpose,  and  if  it  were  not  a  design  of 
nature  that  he  should  have  the  power  of  moving  it  forci- 


190  FARRIEKY,    ETC. 

blj  to  bis  sides,  there  might  be  some  excuse  for  cutting  it 
off,  within  a  fevv'  inches  of  his  body,  or  for  separating  the 
muscles  i\t  its  sides  to  lessen  this  power ;  but,  that  this  is 
not  the  case,  must  be  acknowledged  by  all  who  have  seen 
how  a  horse,  -whose  tail  has  been  abridged  by  ''  Docking," 
or  weakened  by  nicking,  is  annoyed  by  flies. 

If  a  horse  have  a  trick  of  throwing  dirt  on  his  rider's 
clothing,  this  may  be  prevented  by  cutting  off  the  hair  of 
the  tail,  below  the  end  of  the  bones,  as  is  the  custom  with 
hunters  in  England,  where  the  hair  is  cut  squarely  off 
about  eight  or  ten  inches  above  the  hocks. 

Ko  apology  is  offered  for  not  giving  in  this  work  a  de- 
scription of  these  two  operations ;  they  are  so  barbarous 
and  so  senseless,  that  they  are  going  very  rapidly  out  of 
fashion,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  they  will  ere  long,  have 
become  obsolete,  as  has  the  cropping  of  the  ears,  formerly 
so  common  in  England. 

A  more  humane  way  of  setting  up  the  horse's  tail,  to 
give  him  a  more  stylish  appearance,  is  by  simply  weighting 
it  for  a  few  hours  each  day,  in  the  stall,  until  it  attains  the 
desired  elevation.  This  is  done  by  having  two  pulleys  at 
the  top  of  the  stall,  one  at  each  side,  through  which  are 
passed  two  ropes,  which  come  together  and  are  fastened  to 
the  tail,  the  ropes  having  at  their  other  ends  weights  (bags  of 
sand  or  of  shot  are  very  good  for  the  purpose),  which  must 
be  light  at  first,  and  may  be  increased  from  day  to  day. 
The  weighting  should  be  continued  until  the  tail  has  taken 
a  permanent  position  as  desired.  It  is  true  that  this  method 
requires  a  somewhat  longer  time  than'  that  of  cutting  the 
muscles,  but  while  it  is  being  done  the  horse  is  never  off 
his  work,  and  he  suffers  infinitely  less  pain. 

The  method  of  nicking  or  pricking,  as  usually  performed 
in  this  country,  is  not  quite  so  cruel  nor  so  hazardous  as 


BLOOD-LETTING.  191 

the  cutting  of  the  muscles ;  it  is  thus  described  by  Mr. 
Allen :  * 

The  tail  has  four  cords,  two  upper  and  two  lower. 
The  upper  ones  raise  the  tail,  the  lower  ones  depress  it, 
and  these  last  alone  are  to  be  cut.  Take  a  sharp  penknife 
with  a  long  slender  blade ;  insert  the  blade  between  the 
bone  and  under  cord,  two  inches  from  the  body  ;  place  the 
thumb  of  the  hand  holding  the  knife  against  the  under  part 
of  the  tail,  and  opposite  the  blade.  Then  press  the  blade 
toward  the  thumb  against  the  cord,  and  cut  the  cord  off, 
but  do  not  let  the  knife  cut  through  the  skin.  The  cord 
is  firm,  and  it  will  easily  be  known  when  it  is  cut  off.  The 
thumb  will  tell  when  to  desist,  that  the  skin  may  not  be 
cut.  Sever  the  cord  twice  on  each  side  in  the  same  man- 
ner. Let  the  cuts  be  two  inches  apart.  The  cord  is  nearly 
destitute  of  sensation  ;  yet  when  the  tail  is  pricked  in  the 
old  manner,  the  wound  to  the  skin  and  flesh  is  severe,  and 
much  fever  is  induced,  and  it  takes  a  long  time  to  heal. 
But  with  this  method  the  horse's  tail  will  not  bleed,  nor 
will  it  be  sore,  under  ordinary  circumstances,  more  than 
three  days ;  and  he  will  be  pulleyed  and  his  tail  made  in 
one  half  of  the  time  required  by  the  old  method. 

BLEEDING. 

Bleeding,  like  physic  and  many  other  artificial  maasures 
for  assisting  nature,  is  very  much  over-estimated — as  a 
means  of  bringing  horses  into  condition  ;  and  its  evil  effects 
on  horses  in  health  are  not  sufficiently  appreciated.  It  is 
a  well  known  fact,  that  those  men  who  are  in  the  habit 
of  being  bled  every  few  months,  because  of  a  supposed 
over-supply  of  blood,  invariably  become  so  much  inclined  to 
congestion,  that  the  bleeding  has,  after  a  time,  to  be  more 

*  Stewart's  Stable  Book. 


192 

frequently  repeated,  and  it  can  be  dispensed  with  only  at 
the  risk  of  serious  temporary  illness ;  many  who  have  been 
bled  with  imnecessary  frequency  present  the  appearance 
of  an  apoplectic  condition.  These  results  are  supposed  to 
arise  from  an  unnaturally  vigorous  action  of  the  blood — 
forming  power,  acquired  in  the  attempt  of  nature  to  make 
up  for  the  loss  of  bleeding.  The  same  result  is  observed 
in  the  case  of  horses,  and  it  is  believed  that  they  arise  from 
the  same  cause. 

Blood-letting  is,  in  the  hands  of  a  "cautious  physician," 
a  most  valuable  agent  for  reducing  inflammation  or  con- 
gestion, but  in  the  hands  of  the  ordinary  horseman,  or  far- 
rier, it  is  subject  to  great  abuse  and  is  the  occasion  of  many 
evils.  Of  course,  in  a  case  of  blind  staggers,  or  of  great 
inflammation  from  a  wound  or  other  cause,  it  is  well  that 
the  person  having  charge  of  the  horse  should  be  able  to 
apply  this  means  of  relief;  but  for  ordinary  depletion  of 
the  system,  for  bringing  horses  into  condition,  etc.,  it  is 
absurd  to  resort  to  bleeding.  The  end  desired  may  be 
more  safely  attained  by  administering  a  proper  diet. 

The  operation  of  bleeding  is  thus  described  by  Youatt : 

This  operation  is  performed  with  a  fleam  or  a  lancet. 
The  first  is  the  common  instrument,  and  the  safest,  except 
in  skilful  hands.  The  lancet,  however,  has  a  more  surgical 
appearance,  and  will  be  adopted  by  the  veterinary  practi- 
tioner. A  bloodstick — a  piece  of  hard  wood  loaded  at  one 
end  with  lead — is  used  to  strike  the  fleam  into  the  vein. 
This  is  sometimes  done  with  too  great  violence,  and  the 
opposite  side  of  the  coat  of  the  vein  is  wounded.  Bad 
cases  of  inflammation  have  resulted  from  this.  If  the  fist 
is  doubled,  and  the  fleam  is  sharp  and  is  struck  with  suffi- 
cient force  with  the  lower  part  of  the  hand,  the  bloodstick 
may  be  dispensed  with. 

For  gimeviil  bleeding  the  jugular  vein  is  selected.     The 


BLOOD-LET  rmor.  193 

horse  is  blindfolded  on  the  side  on  which  he  is  to  be  bled, 
or  his  head  turned  well  away.  The  hair  is  smoothed  along 
the  course  of  the  vein  with  the  moistened  finger ;  then-, 
with  the  third  and  little  fingers  of  the  left  hand,  which 
holds  the  fleam,  pressure  is  made  on  the  vein  sufficient  to 
bring  it  fairly  into  view,  but  not  to  swell  it  too  much, — 
for  then,  presenting  a  rounded  surface,  it  would  be  apt  to 
roll  or  slip  under  the  blow.  The  point  to  be  selected  is 
about  two  inches  below  the  union  of  the  two  portions  of 
the  jugular  at  the  angle  of  the  jaw.  The  fleam  is  to  be 
placed  in  a  direct  line  with  the  course  of  the  vein,  and 
over  the  precise  centre  of  the  vein,  as  close  to  it  as  pos- 
sible, but  its  point  not  absolutely  touching  the  vein.  A 
sharp  rap  with  the  bloodstick  or  the  hand  on  that  part  of 
the  back  of  the  fleam  immediately  over  the  blade,  will  cut 
through  the  vein,  and  the  blood  will  flow.  A  fleam  with 
a  large  blade  should  always  be  preferred,  for  the  operation 
will  be  materially  shortened,  and  this  will  be  a  matter  of 
some  consequence  with  a  fidgety  or  restive  horse.  A 
quantity  of  blood  drawn  speedily  will  also  have  far  more 
effect  on  the  system  than  double  the  weight  slowly  taken, 
while  the  wound  will  heal  just  as  readily  as  if  made  by  a 
smaller  instrument.  There  is  no  occasion  to  press  hard 
against  the  neck  with  the  pail,  or  can ;  a  slight  pressure  will 
cause  the  blood  to  flow  sufficiently  fast. 

When  sufficient  blood  has  been  taken,  the  edges  of  the 
wound  should  be  brought  closely  and  exactly  together,  and 
kept  together  by  a  small  sharp  pin  being  passed  through 
them.  Eound  this  a  little  tow,  or  a  few  hairs  from  the 
mane  of  the  horse,  should  be  wrapped,  so  as  to  cover  the 
whole  of  the  incision ;  and  the  head  of  the  horse  should  be 
tied  up  for  several  hours,  to  prevent  his  rubbing  the  part 
against  the  manger.  In  bringing  the  edges  of  the  wound 
together,  and  introducing  the  pin,  care  should  be  taken 


194 

not  to  draw  the  skin  too  mucli  from  the  neck, — otherwise 
blood  will  insinuate  itself  between  it  and  the  muscles  be- 
neath, and  cause  an  unsightly  and  sometimes  troublesome 
swelling. 

The  blood  should  be  received  into  a  vessel,  the  dimen- 
sions of  which  are  exactly  known,  so  that  the  operator  may 
be  able  to  calculate  at  every  period  of  the  bleeding  the 
quantity  that  is  subtracted.  Twenty-four  hours  after  the 
operation,  the  edges  of  the  wound  will  have  united,  and 
the  pin  should  be  withdrawn.  When  the  bleeding  is  to  be 
repeated,  if  more  than  three  or  four  hours  have  elapsed,  a 
fresh  incision  will  be  better  than  opening  the  old  wound. 

For  general  bleeding  the  jugular  vein  is  selected  as  the 
largest  superficial  one,  and  most  easily  got  at.  In  every 
affection  of  the  head,  and  in  cases  of  fever  or  extended 
inflammatory  action,  it  is  decidedly  the  best  place  for 
bleeding.  In  local  inflammation,  blood  may  be  taken  from 
any  of  the  superficial  veins.  In  supposed  affection  of  the 
shoulder,  or  of  the  fore  leg,  or  foot,  the  plate  vein,  which 
comes  from  the  inside  of  the  arm,  and  runs  upwards  directly 
in  front  of  it  towards  the  jugular,  may  be  opened.  In  af- 
fections of  the  hind  extremity,  blood  is  sometimes  extracted 
from  the  saphcena^  or  thigh-vein,  which  runs  across  the 
inside  of  the  thigh.  In  foot  cases  it  may  be  taken  from 
the  coronet,  or,  much  more  safely,  from  the  toe;  not  by 
Cutting  out  a  piece  of  the  sole  at  the  toe  of  the  frog,  which 
sometimes  causes  a  wound  difiicult  to  heal,  and  followed 
by  festering,  and  even  by  canker ;  but  cutting  down  with 
a  fine  drawing-knife,  called  a  searcher,  at  the  union  between 
the  crust  and  the  sole  at  the  very  toe  until  the  blood  flows, 
and,  if  necessary,  encouraging  its  discharge  by  dipping  the 
foot  in  warm  water.  The  bleeding  may  be  stopped  with 
the  greatest  ease,  by  placing  a  bit  of  tow  in  the  little  groove 
that  has  been  cut,  and  tacking  the  shoe  over  it. 


TREATMENT  OE  STRAINS.  195 

TREATMENT  OF  STRAINS  AND   WOUNDS. 

Strains. — Strain  is  a  wrenching  or  torsion  of  tlie  mus- 
cles, tendons  or  ligaments,  and  is  generally  followed  by 
pain  and  lameness. 

"  Muscular  strains  consist  of  an  absolute  tearing  of  tbe 
fibrous  tissue  composing  the  muscles ;  or  else  of  such  an 
approach  to  a  disruption  as  to  have  an  equally  prejudicial 
effect  in  producing  lameness-.  In  some  cases  the  whole  of 
a  small  bundle  of  fibres  is  torn  across ;  but  this  is  not  the 
usual  degree  in  which  strains  occur,  and  the  most  common 
amount  of  mischief  is  only  a  slight  separation  of  a  few  of 
the  very  small  fibres  of  which  the  bundle  is  composed ; 
and  this  state  is  then  generally  spread  over  a  considerable 
surface,  producing  considerable  soreness  from  inflamma- 
tion. Tendinous  and  ligamentous  strains  are  very  similar 
in  their  nature,  and  consist  either  in  an  absolute  tearing 
apart  of  these  fibres,  or  such  an  approach  to  this  as  to  cause 
great  inflammation,  and  consequent  incapacity  for  using 
them.  Sometimes  what  is  supposed  to  be  a  strain  of  the 
tendon  is  really  an  inflammation  in  its  sheath,  which  causes 
great  swelling  and  pain,  and  the  limb  is  thereby  rendered 
quite  useless  for  the  time  being."* 

Of  Shoulder  Strain^  Youatt  says : 

The  muscles  of  the  shoulder-blade  are  occasionally 
injured  by  some  severe  shock.  This  is  effected  oftener  by 
a  slip  or  side  fall,  than  by  fair,  although  violent  exertion. 
It  is  of  considerable  importance  to  be  able  to  distinguish 
this  shoulder-lameness  from  injuries  of  other  parts  of  the 
fore  extremity.  There  is  not  much  tenderness,  or  heat,  or 
swelling.  If,  on  standing  before  the  horse,  and  looking  at 
the  size  of  the  two  shoulders,  or  rather  their  points,  one 
should  appear  evidently  larger  than  the  other,  this  must 

*  Stonebenge. 


196  FAKRIERY,    ETC. 

not  be  considered  as  indicative  of  sprain  of  the  musclesof 
the  shoulder.  It  probably  arises  from  bruise  of  the  point 
of  the  shoulder,  which  a  slight  examination  will  determine. 

In  sprain  of  the  shoulder  the  horse  evidently  suffers 
extreme  pain  while  moving,  and,  the  muscle  underneath 
being  inflamed  and  tender,  he  will  extend  it  as  little  as 
possible.  He  ivill  drag  his  toe  along  the  ground.  It  is  in  the 
lifting  of  the  foot  that  the  shoulder  is  principally  moved. 
If  the  foot  is  lifted  high,  let  the  horse  be  ever  so  lame,  the 
shoulder  is  little,  if  at  all  affected. 

In  shoulder-lameness,  the  toe  alone  rests  on  the  ground. 
The  circumstance  which  most  of  all  characterizes  this  affec- 
tion is,  that  when  the  foot  is  lifted  and  then  brous^ht  con- 
siderably  forward  the  horse  will  express  very  great  pain, 
which  he  will  not  do  if  the  lameness  is  in  the  foot  or  the  leg. 

In  sprain  of  the  internal  muscles  of  the  shoulder,  few 
local  measures  can  be  adopted.  The  horse  should  be  bled 
from  the  vein  on  the  inside  of  the  arm  (the  plate  vein), 
because  the  blood  is  then  abstracted  more  imniediately  from 
the  inflamed  part.  A  dose  of  physic  should  be  given,  and 
fomentations  applied,  principally  on  the  inside  of  the 
arm,  close  to  the  chest,  and  the  horse  should  be  kept  as 
quiet  as  possible.  The  injury  is  too  deeply  seated  for  ex- 
ternal stimulants  to  have-  very  great  effect,  yet  a  blister 
will  properly  be  resorted  to,  if  the  lameness  is  not  speedily 
removed. 

Its  best  treatment  consists  of  rest,  cooling  diet,  blistering, 
or  the  use  of  the  seton  or  rowel. 

"  Setons  are  pieces  of  tape  or  cord,  passed  by  means  of 
an  instrument  resembling  a  large  needle,  either  through 
abscesses  or  the  base  of  ulcers,  with  deep  sinuses,  or  between 
the  skin  and  the  muscular  or  other  substances  beneath. 
They  are  retained  there  by  the  ends  being  tied  together, 
or  by  a  knot  in  each  end.    The  tape  is  moved  in  the  wound 


TKEATMENT  OF  STRAINS.  197 

twice  or  thrice  in  the  day ;  occasionally  wetted  with  spirits 
of  turpentine,  or  some  acrid  liquid,  in  order  to  increase  the 
inflammation  which  it  produces,  or  the  discharge  which  is 
intended  to  be  established. 

To  form  a  rowel^  the  skin  is  raised  between  the  finger 
and  thumb,  and  with  a  lancet,  or  with  scissors  contrived 
for  the  purpose,  a  slit  is  cut  an  inch  in  length.  The  finger, 
or  the  handle  of  the  improved  roweling  scissors,  is  intro- 
duced, and  the  skin  is  forcibly  separated  from  the  muscular 
or  cellular  substances  beneath,  until  there  is  a  circular 
cavity  two  or  three  inches  wide ;  into  this  a  piece  of  tow  is 
inserted  sufficient  to  fill  it,  and  previously  smeared  with 
blistering  ointment.  This  causes  considerable  inflammation 
and  discharge.  If  a  little  of  the  tow  be  left  sticking  out 
of  the  incision,  the  discharge  will  conveniently  dribble 
down  it.  The  tow  should  be  changed  every  day,  with  or 
without  the  ointment,  according  to  the  action  of  the  rowel 
or  the  urgency  of  the  case."  * 

If  either  of  these  be  applied  to  the  front  of  the  shoulder, 
it  will  produce  such  a  counter  irritation  as  will  reduce  the 
inflammation  in  the  locality  of  the  strain,  and  aid  in  its  cure. 
They  take  the  place  of  the  blistering  mentioned  by  Mr. 
Youatt. 

Other  Strains. — The  following  directions  of  Dr.  Dadd, 
concerning  strain  of  the  back,  and  those  given  under  the 
head  of  shoulder  strain^  will  serve  as  a  guide  to  the  treatment 
of  all  strains,  supposing  the  mode  of  procedure  to  be  changed 
as  is  required  by  the  locality  of  the  affected  part : 

The  diagno.4ic  symptoms  of  this  form  of  strain  are, — 
pressure  over  the  lumbar  region  elicits  symptom^s  of  pain ; 
the  part  feels  hot ;  and  the  horse,  when  compelled  to  de- 
scribe a  circle,  shows,  by  the  careful  manner  in  which  he 
turns,  that  it  gives  him  great  pain. 

*  Library  of  Useful  Knowledge. 


198 

Treatment — Eest ;  applications  of  cold  water  ;  light  diet ; 
and  cream  of  tartar  water  as  a  drink.  One  ounce  of  cream 
of  tartar  to  a  bucket  of  water  daily.  It  was  customary, 
but  a  few  years  ago.  to  apply  charges,  and  plasters,  to  the 
back,  for  the  cure  of  strain  and  lameness.  But  the  day  of 
plasters  in  human,  as  well  as  veterinary  practice,  has  gone 
by ;  they  are  now  only  used  by  those  who  have  never  tak- 
en the  trouble  to  understand  the  exhalatory  function  of 
the  skin, — which  salutary  function  plasters  obstruct ;  the 
wet  sheet  next  the  skin,  and  a  blanket  over  it,  will  be 
more  likely  to  do  good  than  a  plaster.  Should  the  horse 
show  more  than  ordinary  symptoms  of  pain,  a  fomentation 
of  hops  should  be  resorted  to ;  if,  after  a  day  or  so,  the 
pain  is  still  manifest,  the  trouble  is  something  more  than 
mere  strain,  and  the  owner  had  better  consult  a  medical 
man, 

GALLS   OF   THE   SKIN. 

A  horse  newly  put  to  work,  and  working  in  a  new  har- 
ness, or  under  a  new  saddle,  which  touches  parts  not  in- 
ured to  the  pressure,  are  very  likely  to  have  the  skin  of 
the  back,  and  shoulders  abraded. 

Unless  there  is  an  absolute  necessity  for  the  animal  to 
be  used,  he  should,  in  all  cases,  be  allowed  a  few  days  rest, 
that  the  wound  may  heal  and  become  somewhat  hard ;  and 
even  then,  until  the  hair  has  fairly  grown  out,  the  greatest 
care  must  be  used  to  see  that  the  chafing  of  the  harness 
is  entirely  obviated,  as  when  the  skin  is  in  the  least  sore  it 
is  peculiarly  susceptible  to  irritation.  When  a  gall  is  fresh 
and  bleeding,  nothing  will  so  soon  dry  it  and  cause  it  to 
cicatrise,  as  a  little  dry  table  salt  sprinkled  upon  it. 

After  the  wound  is  in  a  measure  healed,  if  it  be  absolutely 
necessary  to  use  the  horse,  a  careful  examination  of  the 
harness  or  saddle  should  be  made,  and  padding  should  be 


GALLS  OF  THE  SKIN.  19.9 

taken  out,  or  parts  of  the  leather  removed,  to  prevent  any 
part  of  it  from  touching  the  wound.  To  prevent  friction, 
when  caused  by  the  saddle  or  collar,  there  is  nothing  so 
useful  as  a  piece  of  raw  sheep-skin,  worn  with  the  flesh 
side  next  to  the  horse.  In  riding  long  journeys,  it  is  the 
safest  plan  to  have  such  a  protection  always  under  the  sad- 
dle. 

If  the  chafing  is  caused  by  loose  straps  striking  and 
rubbing  against  the  skin,  they  should  be  covered  with 
sheep-skin  having  its  woolly  side  turned  towards  the  horse. 

Saddle  galls  are  unlikely  to  occur  if  the  saddle  fits  the 
back,  and  is  left  on  the  horse  for  at  least  one  hour  (and 
it  had  better  remain  on  two  or  three  hours)  after  he  is 
put  into  the  stable.  If  convenient,  he  should  be  saddled 
half  an  hour  before  going  out,  as  it  is  much  better  that  the 
saddle  should  become  warm,  or  slightly  softened  by  the 
insensible  perspiration  of  the  back,  before  the  rider's  weight 
is  put  upon  it. 

The  following  is  a  good  lotion  for  galls  of  the  skin : 

Sal  ammoniac,  1  ounce. 
Yinegar,  4  ounces. 
Spirits  of  wine,  2  ounces. 
Tincture  of  arnica,  2  drachms. 
Water,  half  a  pint.     Mix. 

If  no  other  remedy  is  used,  a  mixture  of  burned  leather, 
gunpowder  and  lard  should  be  occasionally  rubbed  on  the 
gall  to  prevent  the  growth  of  white  hair. 

Sit  Fasts,  and  their  treatment,  are  thus  described  by 
Stonehenge : 

Sit  Fast  is  merely  a  name  for  an  obstinate  and  callous 
galled-sore,  which  has  repeatedly  been  rubbed  by  the  sad- 
dle, and  has  become  leathery,  and  disinclined  to  heal.  If 
time  can  be  allowed,  there  is  nothing  like  a  small  quantity 


200  FARKIEJRY,   ETC. 

of  blistering  ointment  rubbed  on ;  or  the  application  of  a 
small  piece  of  fused  potass ;  or  even  the  nitrate  of  silver  in 
substance,  or  blue-stone ;  all  of  which  will  produce  a  new 
action  in  the  part,  and  if  followed  by  rest  from  the  saddle, 
will  generally  effect  a  cure. 

FLESH  WOUJS'DS. 

The  following,  on  the  treatment  of  ordinary  flesh  wounds, 
is  from  Dadd's  Modern  Horse  Doctor : 

Incised  Wounds  are  those  inflicted  by  sharp  instru- 
ments. On  the  human  body  they  often  heal  without  any 
subsequent  inflammation  beyond  what  nature  sets  up  in 
the  restorative  j^rocess ;  but  the  difficulty  in  the  horse  is, 
that  we  cannot  always  keep  theparts  iu  contact,  and  there- 
fore it  is  not  so  easy  to  unite  them 

If  the  wound  is  seen  immediately  after  infliction,  and  there 
seems  to  be  the  least  probability  of  healing  by  first  inten- 
tion, we  place  a  twitch  on  the  horse's  nose,  and  examine 
the  part.  If  there  be  found  neither  dirt  nor  foreign  body 
of  any  kind,  the  blood  had  better  not  be  washed  off;  for 
this  is  the  best  healing  material  in  the  Avorld.  The  edges 
are  then  to  be  brought  together  by  interrupted  sutures, 
taking  care  not  to  include  the  hair  between  the  edges  of 
the  wound,  for  that  would  effectually  prevent  union. 
Nothing  more  is  needed  but  to  secure  the  animal  so  that 
he  cannot  get  at  it.  If  he  is  to  be  kept  in  the  stable,  with- 
out exercise,  for  any  length  of  time,  he  had  better  be  put 
on  half  diet. 

Contused  AYounds. — These  are  generally  occasioned 
by  hooks,  or  some  blunt  body  connected  with  the  harness 
or  vehicle.  They  generally  leave  a  gaping  wound  with 
bruised  edges.  We  have  only  to  remember  that  nature 
possesses  the  power  of  repairing  injuries  of  this  kind — of 
filling  up  the  parts  and  covering  them  with  new  skin ;  all 


TREATMENT   OF   WOUNDS.  201 

we  have  to  do  is,  to  attend  to  the  general  health  of  the 
animal,  and  keep  the  wound  in  a  healthy  condition.  Our 
usual  application  is  the  compound  tincture  of  myrrh.  If 
the  part  assume  an  unhealthy  aspect,  a  charcoal  poultice 
will  rectify  that.  If  such  cannot  be  applied,  owing  to  the 
situation  of  the  wound,  dress  it  with  pyroligneous  acid. 

Lacerated  AYounds. — Lacerated  wounds  are  gene- 
rally in  the  form  of  a  rent  rather  than  cut,  inflicted  (as  we 
have  seen  cases)  by  the  caulking  of  a  shoe  tearing  off  the 
integuments  and  subcellular  tissue,  leaving  a  sort  of  tri- 
angular flap.  In  these  cures  we  generally  employ  sutures, 
and  treat  them  the  same  as  incised  wounds. 

Punctured  Wounds  are  those  inflicted  by  a  pointed 
body,  as  a  nail  in  the  foot,  the  point  of  a  fork,  or  a  splin- 
ter of  wood.  These  are  the  most  dangerous  kinds  of 
wounds,  for  they  are  frequently  the  cause  of  fistula  and 
locked -jaw. 

We  make  it  an  invariable  rule,  in  the  treatment  of 
punctured  wounds,  to  first  examine  by  probe,  or  otherwise, 
and  remove  any  foreign  body  that  may  be  present,  and 
then  poultice  with  flaxseed,  into  which  we  stir  a  small 
quantity  of  fir  balsam.  In  puncture  of  the  foot  by  nail, 
instead  of  plastering  it  with  tar,  and  forcing  a  tent  into  the 
orifice,  and  then  covering  the  sole  with  leather,  as  most 
blacksmiths  are  wont  to  do,  we  have  the  shoe  taken  off, 
the  foot  washed  clean,  and  a  moderately  warm  poultice 
applied,  and  renewed  daily,  until  the  suppurative  stage 
commences.  That  once  established,  we  consider  our  patient 
safe ;  for  many  men;  as  well  as  animals,  have  lost  their  lives 
from  the  absorption  of  pus  formed  in  the  wound  after  the 
external  breach  had  healed.  When  a  bone  is  injured  by 
the  point  of  a  nail,  or  fork,  the  cure  is  rather  tedious;  the 
primary  means,  however,  are  the  same.  The  poultices  may 
be  followed  by  astringent  injections,  as  alum  water,  &c. 


202 

In  case  of  injury  to  the  bone,  we  use  pyroligneous  acid, 
to  be  thrown  into  the  wound  by  means  of  a  small  syringe. 
If  extensive  disease  of  the  bone  sets  in,  the  services  of  a 
veterinary  surgeon  will  be  required.  A  very  profuse  or 
unhealthy  discharge  from  a  punctured  wound  must  be  met 
by  constitutional  remedies.  Sulphur  and  sassafras,  to  the 
amount  of  half  an  ounce  each,  every  other  day,  to  the 
amount  of  three  or  four  doses,  will  arrest  the  morbid  phe- 
nomenon. The  local  remedy  in  all  cases  of  this  kind  is, 
diluted  acetic  or  pyroligneous  acid. 

Ckacked  Heels. — Horses  that  are  so  neglected  that 
thoy  have  a  tendency  to  inflammation  of  the  legs,  and  feet, 
are  often  troubled  with  what  is  known  as  cracked  heeh^ 
which  is  a  very  troublesome  affection,  and  causes  a  great 
loss  of  useful  service,  in  the  case  of  animals  otherwise  well 
cared  for. 

Cracked  heels  may  be  cured  on  the  same  general 
principles  as  are  employed  in  the  case  of  scratches  or  grease, 
which  is  thus  described  by  Percival : 

The  etiology  of  grease  throws  considerable  light  upon 
its  veritable  nature.  Horses  which  are  at  pasture  or  in 
straw  yards — in  situations,  in  fact,  where  heat  and  cold  are 
not  naturally,  and  cannot  be  artificially,  made  suddenly 
operative  upon  the  heels — rarely  have  grease.  Those  that 
have  grease  in  stables  are  mostly  coach  and  cart-horses, 
with  thick,  fleshy  heels  and  white  legs ;  which  are  subject 
to  get  their  heels  wet,  and  do  not  commonly  have  such 
pains  bestowed  upon  them,  to  dry  the  legs,  as  hackneys, 
hunters,  and  racers  have.  Indeed,  among  the  latter,  grease 
is  a  very  uncommon  disease.  Such  horses  also  stand  in 
stables  hot  and  filthy  from  dung  and  urine,  the  very  ex- 
halations from  the  litter  of  which  proves  an  additional 
excitement. 

Grease  formerly  made  great  ravages  in  the  English  cav- 


CLIPriNG  AND   SINGEING.  203 

alrj  and  ordnanco  service;  whereas,  at  the  present  day 
the  disease  is  scarcely  known.  This  change  for  the  better 
is  ascribed  to  thre^  causes ; — to  proper  ventilation  of  the 
stables ;  the  greater  attention  paid  to  gi"ooming ;  and  to  the 
presence  of  a  veterinary  surgeon,  who  checks,  at  the  onset, 
such  a  casual  occurrence. 

The  best  remedy  for  this  disease  is  probably  the  follow- 
ing, which  has  been  recommended  by  Professor  Morton, 
of  the  Koy  al  Veterinary  College : 


Pyroligneous  acid, 

Linseed  oil,  y  .   of  each  equal  parts. 

Turpentine, 


I 


Mix ;  let  the  heels  first  be  washed  with  lukewarm  water 
and  Castile  soap ;  after  wiping  them  dry,  apply  the  mixture. 
Eepeat  night  and  morning. 

In  order  to  keep  down  morbid  granulations — denomi- 
nated by  some  ^^ proud  flesh^^ — the  parts  may  be  sprinkled 
daily  with  one  of  the  following  articles : 

Powdered  bloodroot. 
.    "  burnt  alum, 

'•  bay  berry  bark. 

Put  on  a  good  coating  of  one  of  the  above  articles ;  cov- 
er the  sore  with  dry  lint ;  and  apply  a  bandage  over  all. 
It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  bandages  should  always  be 
dispensed  with,  if  possible;  for  they  invariably  irritate  and 
inflame  whatever  parts  they  are  applied  to.  This  is  owing 
to  the  high  state  of  sensibility  in  the  skin  of  the  horse.  * 

CLIPPING  AND   SINGEING. 

It  has  for  a  long  time  been  the  custom  to  clip  the  coats 
of  many  well  kept  horses  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  that  they 
may  present  a  less  shaggy  appearance  during  the  winter 
months  than  if  their  hair  were  allowed  to  grow  to  its  natu- 

*  From  Dadd's  Modern  Horse  Doctor. 


204 

ral  length.  For  this  practice  there  has  been  recently  sub- 
stituted that  of  singeing  with  burning  gas,  by  means  of  an 
apparatus  made  for  the  jDurpose,  which  may  be  obtained 
at  most  saddlers'  in  cities  where  gas  is  consumed. 

This  is  an  operation  which  requires  to  be  performed  by 
a  person  who  thoroughly  understands  it,  and  it  is  unnec- 
essary to  giye  any  directions  for  it  in  this  woi'k.     • 

There  have  been  opposed  to  this  practice  many  objec- 
tions, most  of  which  were  groundless,  in  the  case  of  horses 
which  are  highly  prized  and  proportionately  well  cared 
for.  It  would^  of  course,  be  unwise  to  apply  it  to  horses 
receiving  only  ordinary  care,  such  as  working- horses ;  but 
for  all  that  are  kept  for  pleasure  driving,  or  for  fast  work, 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  it  is  judicious,  inasmuch  as  it 
gives  them  a  much  better  appearance,  prevents  their  break- 
ing out  in  cold  sweats  in  the  stable,  or  carrjdng  wet  coats 
after  perspiring  freely.  Indeed,  it  is  at  least  questionable, 
whether  in  the  case  of  all  horses  that  are  not  required  from 
the  nature  of  their  work  to  stand,  unblanketed,  in  the  cold, 
it  would  not  cause  a  great  saving  of  their  natural  heat  and 
strength  by  keeping  their  coats  generally  in  a  dryer  condition. 
To  prove  that  there  is  less  danger  of  taking  cold  in  conse- 
quence of  this  treatment  than  would  be  supposed,  the  fol- 
lowing extract  is  made  from  an  English  work  on  "Stable 
Practice"  (by  Cecil): 

I  was  returning  home  one  evening,  in  the  month  of 
November,  and,  passing  through  a  gentleman's  park  under 
some  trees,  the  branches  of  which  I  could  not  discern,  in 
consequence  of  the  excessive  darkness,  I  was  thereby  pulled 
off  my  hack,  a  mare  which  had  been  clipped  only  the  day 
previous.  This  disaster  gave  her  her  liberty ;  and,  although 
I  obtained  the  aid  of  the  keeper,  and  other  assistance,  I 
coiild  hot  succeed  in  finding  the  mare.  She  therefore  re- 
mained in  the  park,  without  shelter,  all  night.     Moreover, 


TRIMMING  THE  HAIR  OF  THE  LEGS,  ETC.  205 

it  was  bitterly  cold,  foggy,  and  frosty.  When  dayliglit  ap« 
peared,  the  mare  was  discovered;  and  I  fully  expected,  espe- 
cially as  I  had  ridden  her  fast  np  to  the  time  we  parted 
company,  that  she  Avould  be  laid  up  with  a  violent  cold. 
That,  however,  was  not  the  case.  On  her  return  home  she 
had  a  bran  mash,  with  two  ounces  of  spirit  of  nitric  ether, 
and,  on  the  following  day,  gave  no  evidence  of  the  slightest 
indisposition.  Had  she  not  been  clipped  I  am  inclined  to 
think  the  result  would  not  have  been  so  fortunate ;  because, 
from  the  pace  I  had  ridden  her,  with  the  perspiration  in 
the  coat,  she  would  have  been  wet  all  night,  whereas  she 
quickly  became  dry ;  hence  the  coldness  of  the  atmosphere 
had  not  such  an  inj  urious  effect  as  might  have  been  expected." 

TRIMMING   THE    HAIR  OF  THE   LEGS  AND  HEELS. 

On  the  subject  of  trimming  the  hair  of  the  legs  and  heels, 
we  find  the  following  sensible  remarks  in  Stewart's  Stable 
Book: 

The  hair  of  the  fetlock,  the  hollow  of  the  pastern,  and 
the  posterior  aspect  of  the  legs,  is  longer  on  heavy  draught- 
horses  than  on  those  of  finer  bone.  It  is  intended  to  keep 
the  legs  warm,  and  perhaps,  in  some  degree,  to  defend  them 
from  external  violence.  It  becomes  much  shorter  and  less 
abundant  after  the  horse  is  stabled,  kept  warm,  well  fed, 
and  well  groomed.  The  simple  act  of  washing  the  legs, 
or  rubbing  them,  tends  to  make  the  hair  short  and  thin, 
and  to  keep  it  so.  Nevertheless,  it  is  a  very  common  prac- 
tice, especially  in  coaching-stables,  to  clip  this  hair  away 
almost  close  to  the  root. 

The  heels^"  are  trimmed  in  three  different  ways :  the 
most  common  and  the  easiest  is,  to  clip  away  all  the  long 

*  The  word  hed  is  applied  to  the  back  and  hollow  of  the  pastern.     In  this 
place,  all  that  is  said  of  the  heels  is  applicable  to  the  legs. 


206 

liair,  near  or  close  to  the  roots ; — another  way  is,  to  switch 
the  heels, — that  is,  to  shorten  the  hair  without  leaving  any 
mark  of  the  scissors ;  the  groom  seizes  the  hair  and  cuts 
off  a  certain  portion  in  the  same  manner  that  he  shortens 
a  switch  tail ; — the  third  mode  is,  to  pull  the  long  hairs  out 
by  the  roots.  Switching  and  pulling,  which  is  little  prac- 
tised, are  generally  confined  to  the  foot-lock ;  some  neat 
operators  combine  these  different  modes  so  well,  that  the 
hair  is  rendered  thin  and  short  without  presenting  any 
very  visible  marks  of  the  alteration.  By  means  of  an  iron 
comb  with  small  teeth  and  a  pair  of  good  scissors,  the  hair 
may  be  shortened  without  setting  it  on  end  or  leaving  scis- 
sor marks,  but  every  groom  can  not  do  this. 

When  the  horse  is  carefully  tended  after  his  work  is 
over,  his  legs  quickly  and  completely  dried,  the  less  hair 
he  has  about  them  the  better.  The  moisture  which  that 
little  takes  up  can  be  easily  removed :  both  the  skin  and 
the  hair  can  be  made  perfectly  dry  before  evaporation 
begins,  or  proceeds  so  far  as  to  deprive  the  legs  of  their 
heat.  It  is  the  cold  produced  by  evaporation  that  does  all 
the  mischief 

Whenever  the  legs  must  be  dried  by  manual  labor,  they 
should  have  little  hair  about  them.  But  in  coaching  and 
posting-studs,  and  among  cart-horses,  the  men  can  not,  or 
will  not,  bestow  this  care  upon  the  legs ;  they  have  not 
time,  and  they  would  not  do  it  if  they  had  time.  A  team 
of- four  horses,  perhaps,  comes  in  at  once,  the  legs  all  wet, 
and,  it  may  be,  the  whole  skin  drenched  in  rain.  Before 
eight  of  the  legs  can  be  rubbed  dry,  the  other  eight  have 
become  almost  dry  of  themselves,  and  are  nearly  as  cold 
as  they  can  be.  I^hese  horses  should  never  have  the  heels 
trimmed:  they  cannot  have  too  much  hair  about  them. 
They  do  indeed  soak  up  a  great  deal  of  water,  and  remain 
wet  for  a  much  longer  time  than  those  that  are  nearly 


DRESSING   THE    MANE,    TAIL,    AND    EARS.  207 

naked;  but  still  they  never  become  so  soon  nor  so  in- 
tensely cold. 

DRESSING   THE   MANE,   TAIL,    AND    EARS. 

The  Mane. — When  it  is  desired  to  make  the  mane  lie  on 
tlie  opposite  side  from  that  toward  which  it  naturally  grows, 
it  should  be  combed  and  wetted  several  times  a  day.  This 
will  suffice  if  it  is  not  very  short  and  bushy ;  in  such  case, 
some  of  the  hair  may  be  pulled  out  from  the  under  part, 
on  the  side  toward  which  it  is  desired  to  make  it  grow ; 
this  will  generally  cause  it  to  fall  easily.  If  this  does  not 
suffice,  the  mane  should  be  plaited  in  eight  or  ten  braids, 
the  end  of  each  being  loaded  with  a  bit  of  lead.  When 
the  mane  becomes  too  long,  or  too  thick,  a  few  of  the  hairs 
should  be  pulled  out,  but  it  is  necessary  that  this  should 
be  done  with  care  and  judgment. 

The  Tail. — If  the  tail  of  a  horse  is  tolerably  good,  it  may 
be  kept  in  proper  order  by  being  combed  daily  with  a  strong 
comb.  If  the  hair  is  inclined  to  be  too  wiry,  and  to  stand 
on  end,  it  may  sometimes  be  made  to  lie  well  by  being 
moistened,  and  either  tied  together  at  the  ends  or  bound 
around  with  a  straw  rope.  If  the  tail  become  unhealthy 
(which  may  be  known  by  a  dry  scurf  in  the  hair,  accom- 
panied by  itching),  it  should  never  be  combed,  but  should 
be  dressed  by  frequent  wiping  down  with  wet  straw.  It  is 
not  the  custom  in  this  country  to  square  the  end  of 
the  tail,  and  the  only  directions,  therefore,  which  it  is  nec- 
essary to  give,  are  w4iat  refers  to  the  pointing  of  the  switch 
tail.  To  do  this  properly  requires  some  skill.  The  tail 
must  be  taken  in  the  left  hand,  a  small  portion  at  a  time, 
and  the  knife,  which  is  Jield  in  the  right  hand,  with  its  edge 
resting  directly  across  the  hair,  should  be  moved  up  and 
down  over  the  hair  in  such  a  way  as  to  rasp  it  off,  leaving 
the  ends  irregular  in  their  lengths. 


208  FARRIEKY,    ETC. 

The  Ear. — Custom  to  the  contrary,  notwithstanding,  the 
hair  on  the  inner  side  of  the  ear  of  the  horse  should  never 
be  cut  away.  It  is  necessary  to  protect  that  delicate  organ 
from  dust,  rain,  and  cold.  The  only  treatment  which 
should  be  allowed,  is  to  close  the  edges  of  the  ear  together, 
and  to  clip  off  the  hair  that  projects  beyond  them. 

ADMINISTERING  MEDICINE   TO   THE   HORSE. 

On  this  subject  Stonehenge  gives  the  following  direc- 
tions : 

The  most  common  form  in  which  medicine  is  given  to 
the  horse  is  by  means  of  the  ball, — an  oblong  mass  of  rather 
soft  consistence,  yet  tough  enough  to  retain  its  shape,  and 
wrapped  up  in  thin  paper  for  that  purpose.  The  usual 
weight  of  the  ball  is  from  half  an  ounce  to  an  ounce,  but 
they  may  be  given  of  a  larger  size,  if  they  are  made  longer 
but  not  wider.  Every  groom  should  know  how  to  give  a 
ball,  which  is  managed  either  with  or  without  a  balling- 
iron,  an  instrument  which  is  seldom  wanted,  and  which 
sometimes  occasions  considerable  mischief  to  the  roof  of 
the  horse's  mouth.  Occasionally  a  horse  cannot  be  man- 
aged by  any  other  means;  but,  generally  speaking,  they 
are  only  an  excuse  for  bad  management.  In  giving  a  ball 
in  the  ordinary  way,  the  horse's  tongue  is  drawn  out  of  his 
mouth  on  the  off  or  right  side,  and  held  there  firmly  with 
the  left  hand  grasping  it  as  near  the  root  as  possible,  but 
to  a  certain  extent  yielding  to  the  movement  of  the  horse's 
head,  so  as  not  absolutely  to  tear  it  out.  While  the  tongue 
is  thus  held,  the  ball  is  placed  between  the  fingers  and 
thumb  of  the  right  hand,  extended  in  a  wedge-like  or  coni- 
cal form,  so  as  to  pass  as  far  down  tJie  swallow  as  possible ; 
andv  the  hand  in  this  form,  with  the  arm  bared  to  the 
shoulder,  is  car^^ied  over  the  root  of  the  tongue  till  it  feels 
the  impediment  caused  by  the  contraction  of  the  swallow, 


ADMINISTEKING   MEDICINE.  209 

when  the  fingers  leave  the  ball  there,  and  the  hand  is  with- 
drawn quickly  yet  smoothly,  while  at  the  same  moment 
the  tongue  is  released,  and  the  head  is  held  up  till  the  ball 
is  seen  to  pass  down  the  gullet  on  the  left  side  of  the  neck, 
after  which  the  head  may  be  released.  When  the  balling- 
iron  is  used,  the  oval  ring  of  which  it  is  composed  is  passed 
into  the  mouth,  so  as  to  keep  it  open,  being  first  well 
guarded  with, tow  or  cloths  wrapped  round  it;  the  handle 
is  then  held  in  the  left  hand,  together  with  the  halter,  so 
as  to  steady  the  head,  and  yet  to  keep  the  horse  from 
biting ;  and  while  thus  held  the  hand  can  freely  be  carried 
over  the  tongue,  and  the  ball  be  deposited  in  the  pharynx. 
When  a  horse  is  very  determined,  it  is  sometimes  neces- 
sary to  keep  the  iron  in  the  mouth  by  means  of  the  check- 
pieces  of  an  ordinarj^  bridle  buckled  to  the  sides  of  the 
oval  ring ;  but  this  expedient  is  seldom  required  if  the 
halter  is  firmly  grasped  with  the  handle  of  the  iron.  In 
the  usual  Avay  the  horse  to  be  hailed  is  turned  round  in  his 
stall,  which  prevents  his  backing  away  from  the  groom ; 
and  if  the  latter  is  not  tall  enough,  he  may  stand  upon  a 
sound  stable-bucket,  turned  upside  down.  Balls  should  be 
recently  made,  as  they  soon  spoil  by  keeping ;  not  only 
losing  their  strength,  but  also  becoming  so  hard  as  to  be 
almost  insoluble  in  the  stomach,  and  frequently  passing 
through  the  bowels  nearly  as  they  went  into  the  mouth. 
When  hard  they  are  also  liable  to  stick  in  the  horse's 
gullet.  If  ammonia,  or  any  other  strong  stimulant,  is  given 
in  this  way,  the  horse  should  not  have  his  stomach  quite 
empty,  but  should  have  a  little  gruel  or  water  just  before ; 
for  if  this  is  put  off  till  afterwards,  the  nauseous  taste  of  the 
ball  almost  always  prevents  his  drinking.  When  arsenic 
forms  an  ingredient  of  "the  ball,  it  should  be  given  soon 
after  a  feed  of  corn ;  or  a  quart  or  two  of  gruel  should  be 
given  instead,  just  before  the  ball. 


210  FARRIERY,   ETC. 

The  administration  of  a  drench  is  a  much  more  trouble- 
some  affair  than  the  giving  of  a  ball ;  and  in  almost  all 
cases  more  oi*  less  of  the  dose  is  wasted.  Sometimes,  how- 
ever, a  liquid  medicine  is  to  be  preferred,  as  in  colic  or 
gripes,  when  the  urgent  nature  of  the  s3'mptoms  demands 
a  rapidly-acting  remedy,  which  a  ball,  from  its  requiring 
time  to  dissolve,  is  not;  and,  besides  this,  a  ball  cannot 
contain  any  of  the  sprituous  cordials.  The  best  instrument 
for  giving  a  drench  is  the  horn  of  the  ox,  cut  obliquely,  so 
as  to  form  a  spout.  Bottles  are  sometimes  used  in  an  emer- 
gency, but  their  fragile  nature  always  renders  them  dan- 
gerous. In  giving  a  drench,  the  tongue  is  held  in  the  same 
Avay  as  for  the  delivery  of  a  ball,  but  the  head  must  be 
more  elevated ;  the  drench  is  then  carefully  poured  into 
the  throat,  after  which  the  tongue  is  let  go,  but  the  head 
still  kept  up  till  it  is  all  swallowed.  Allowance  should 
always  be  made  for  some  waste  in  giving  a  drench. 

The  mode  of  managing  all  horses  while  '  in  physic,'  is  that 
which  I  shall  here  describe.  In  all  cases,  if  possible,  the 
horse  should  be  prepared  by  bran  mashes,  given  for  two 
or  three  nights,  so  as  to  make  the  bowels  rather  loose  than 
otherwise,  and  thus  allow  the  dose  to  act  without  undue 
forcing  of  the  impacted  fences  backwards.  If  physic  is 
given  without  this  softening  process,  the  stomach  and  bow- 
els pour  out  a  large  secretion  of  fluid,  which  is  forced  back 
upon  the  rectum,  and  met  by  a  solid  obstacle  which  it 
takes  a  long  time  to  overcome,  and  during  that  interval  the 
irritating  purge  is  acting  upon  the  lining  membrane,  and 
often  produces  excessive  inflammation  of  it.  Purging 
physic  should  generally  be  given  in  the  middle  of  the 
day,  after  which  the  horse  should  remain  in  the  stable,  and 
have  chilled  water  as  often  as  he  will  drink  it,  with  bran 
mashes.  By  the  next  morning  he  will  be  ready  to  be 
walked  out  for  an  hour,  which  will  set  the  bowels  to  act 


PHYSICING.  211 

if  they  have  not  already  began.  It  is  usual  to  tie  up  the 
tail  with  a  tape  or  string,  so  as  to  keep  it  clean.  The  horse 
should  be  warmly  clothed,  and  if  the  physic  does  not 
act  u'ith  an  hour's  walk,  he  may  be  gently  trotted  for  a 
short  distance,  and  then  taken  home;  and,  if  still  ob- 
stinate, he  may  be  exercised  again  in  the  afternoon.  As 
soon  as  the  physic  operates  pretty  freely  the  horse  is  to  be 
taken  into  his  stable,  and  not  stirred  out  again ^  under  any 
pretence  whatever^  for  forty-eight  hours  after  it  has  *'set," 
or,  in  common  language,  stopped  acting.  When  the  purg- 
ing has  ceased,  the  mashes  may  be  continued  for  twenty- 
four  hours,  with  a  little  corn  added  to  them,  and  a  quantity 
of  hay.  The  water,  during  the  whole  time,  should  be  in 
small  quantities,  and  chilled ;  and  the  clothing  should  be 
rather  warmer  than  usual,  taking  great  care  to  avoid 
draughts  of  cold  air.  Every  horse  requires  at  least  three 
days'  rest  for  a  dose  of  physic,  in  order  to  avoid  risk  of 
mischief. 

The  mode  of  giving  a  clyster  is  now  rendered  simple 
enough,  because  a  pump  and  tp.be  are  expressly  made  for 
the  purpose ;  and  the  groom  has  only  to  pass  the  greased 
end  of  the  tube  carefully  into  the  rectum,  for  about  eight 
or  nine  inches,  and  then  pump  the  liquid  up  until  a  suffi- 
cient quantity  is  given.  From  a  gallon  to  six  quarts  is  the 
average  quantity,  but  in  colic  a  much  larger  amount  is 
required. 

Lotions  are  applied  by  means  of  calico  bandages,  if 
used  to  the  legs ;  or  by  a  piece  of  calico  tied  over  the  part, 
if  to  any  other  surface. 

Fomentations  are  very  serviceable  to  the  horse  in  all 
recent  external  inflammations,  and  it  is  astonishing  what 
may  be  done  by  a  careful  groom,  with  warm  water  alone, 
and  a  good-sized  sponge.  Sometimes  by  means  of  an  elastic 
tube  and  stop-cock  warm  water  is  conducted  in  a  continuous 


212 

stream  over  an  inflamed  part,  as  in  severe  wounds,  &c.,  in 
whicli  this  plan  is  found  wonderfully  successful  in  allaying 
the  irritation,  which  is  so  likely  to  occur  in  the  nervous 
system  of  the  horse.  A  vessel  of  warm  water  is  placed 
above  the  level  of  the  horse's  back,  and  a  small  India-rubber 
tube  leads  from  it  to  a  sponge  fixed  above  the  part,  from 
which  the  water  runs  to  the  ground  as  fast  as  it  is  over- 
filled. It  is  a  plan  very  easily  carried  out  by  any  person 
of  ordinary  ingenuity. 

DISEASES   OF   THE   FEET. 

Thrush  is  inflammation  of  the  lower  surface  of  the  sensi- 
ble frog,  which  while  so  inflamed  secretes  pus^  instead  of 
horn ;  this  offensive  matter  being  exuded  from  the  cleft  of 
the  frog  renders  it  sensitive  to  pain.  The  direct  cause  of 
thrush  is  doubtless  too  much  secretion,  especially  of  a  foul 
kind  ;  but  this  result  will  never  occur  unless  the  horse  is, 
or  has  been,  so  shod,  as  to  prevent  a  natural  expansion  of 
the  foot;  and  even  where  thrush  has  appeared  it  may  some- 
times be  cured  by  the  adoption  of  the  "one-sided  nailing." 

Corns  in  the  feet  of  horses  are  injuries  to  the  sole, 
usually  occurring  in  the  angle  between  the  crust  and  bar 
on  the  inner  side  of  the  fore  foot.  They  are  caused  by  the 
pressure  of  the  shoe,  or  of  gravel  which  is  lodged  under 
the  shoe.  They  are  easily  prevented,  and  when  they  occur 
they  are  a  disgrace  to  the  smith  who  shoes  the  animal,  or 
to  the  groom  who  neglects  to  clean  out  the  gravel  which 
accumulates  between  the  shoe  and  the  foot. 

They  may  be  cui-ed,  if  recent,  or  greatly  relieved,  if  of 
long  standing,  by  a  proper  adaptation  of  the  shoe.  The 
sole  should  be  (in  the  sound  foot,  as  well  as  in  that  which 
has  corns,)  cut  away  from  the  angle  in  question  until  it  is 
lower  than  both  the  crust  and  the  bar,  and  these  should  be 
so  prepared  as  to  afford  an  elevated  support  for  the  shoe, 


2  IB 

whicli,  if  properly  made,  will  rest  always  upon  them  and 
will  be  in  no  danger  of  pressing  upon  the  sole  at  the  ''  corn 
place."  If  the  case  is  a  bad  one,  and  if  the  frog  is  suffi- 
ciently sound  to  withstand  the  pressure,  a  bar-shoe  may  be 
used,  which  is  chambered  over  the  affected  point,  and  so 
formed  as  to  rest  upon  the  frog.  This  treatment,  however, 
should  not  be  constant,  as  the  frog  would  not  long  bear  the 
pressure,  and  as  the  heel  being  relieved  from  pressure  might 
become  softened,  and  thus  induce  permanent  lameness. 
There  are  few  cases  in  which  a  bar-shoe,  thus  formed,  can 
be  used  for  more  than  two  successive  shoeings. 

If  a  horse,  whose  feet  are  already  sound,  be  shod  accord- 
ing to  the  directions  given  in  the  chapter  on  that  subject, 
there  need  be  no  fear  of  his  having  corns,  if  proper  care  be 
taken  to  prevent  an  accumulation  of  gravel  under  the  shoe. 

Cutting,  or  interfering,  is  the  striking  of  the  fetlock 
joint  with  the  opposite  foot,  or  its  shoe.  It  arises  some- 
times from  a  defective  formation  of  the  legs,  but  generally 
from  improper  shoeing.     On  this  subject  Youatt  says : 

Many  expedients  used  to  be  tried  to  remove  this ;  the 
inside  heel  has  been  raised  and  lowered,  and  the  outside 
raised  and  lowered ;  and  sometimes  one  operation  has  suc- 
ceeded, and  sometimes  the  contrary ;  and  there  was  no  point 
so  involved  in  obscurity,  or  so  destitute  of  principles  to 
guide  the  practitioner.  The  most  successful  remedj^,  and 
that  which  in  the  great  majority  of  cases  supersedes  all 
others,  is  Mr.  Turner's  shoe,  of  equal  thickness  from  heel 
to  toe,  and  having  but  one  nail  on  the  inside  of  the  shoe, 
and  that  near  the  toe ;  care  being  taken  that  the  shoe  shall 
not  extend  beyond  the  edge  of  the  crust,  and  that  the  crust 
shall  be  rasped  a  little  at  the  quarters. 

When  the  leg  is  at  all  swollen  from  the  cutting,  it  should 
be  protected  by  a  boot,  which  should  in  all  cases  remain  on 
until  the  cure  is  complete,  as  if  the  swelling  remained  it 


214  FARRIERY,    ETC. 

might  throw  the  parts  so  far  into  the  line  of  the  other  foot, 
when  in  motion,  as  to  cause  the  cutting  to  continue  in  spite 
of  every  attempt  to  prevent  it. 

Speedy  cut  is  a  cut  of  the  knee,  by  the  striking  of  the 
shoe  of  the  opposite  foot,  when  the  horse  is  cantering,  or 
throwing  his  feet  very  high  in  the  trot.  The  only  remedy, 
when  the  shoeing  has  been  properly  performed,  and  the 
cutting  still  continues,  is  to  use  the  boot  on  the  wounded 
knee ;  but,  in  such  a  case  of  constitutional  defect,  the  boot 
can  never  be  dispensed  with,  as  an  unlucky  step  might  at 
any  time  cause  the  horse  to  fall  from  the  pain  occasioned 
by  the  blow. 

Nail  pricking,  from  careless  shoeing,  is  very  common, 
especially  in  country  districts,  where  the  smith  is  very  often 
guided  only  by  the  horse  flinching,  in  deciding  whether  a 
nail  has  gone  too  deep.  Injury  from  these  causes  is  not 
always  perceptible  at  the  time  of  shoeing,  but  it  will  be 
certain  to  appear  in  a  few  days.  When  an  injury  arising 
from  this  cause  is  detected,  the  shoe  should,  be  removed 
and  the  foot  examined,  that  the  extent  of  the  injury  may 
be  learned.  Stonehenge  gives  the  following  directions  for 
the  treatment  of  such  cases  : 

On  removing  the  shoe  it  is  found  that  there  is  great 
tenderness  at  some  particular  part  of  the  foot,  and  some- 
times a  slight  bulging;  but  this  is  seldom  evident  so  soon. 
It  is  the  better  plan  to  place  the  foot  in  a  cold  bran  poultice, 
without  a  shoe  on,  and  wait  for  a  day  or  two,  when,  if  the 
foot  continues  very  hot,  the  smith  must  pare  down  the  horn 
over  the  suspected  place,  and  let  out  the  matter,  if  there  is 
any ;  or,  if  necessary,  bleed  at  the  toe,  which  is  likely  to 
relieve  the  inflammation,  and  prevent  suppuration,  if  it  has 
not  already  occurred.  If  matter  has  formed,  and  is  let  out 
a  little,  friar's  balsam  is  pushed  into  the  abscess  on  a  piece 
of  lint,  and  the  shoe  tacked  on ;  but  the  lint  must  be  so  left 


TBEATMENT  OF   QUITTOR.  215 

as  to  be  capable  of  being  pulled  out  on  the  next  day,  so  as 
to  leave  a  clear  opening  for  the  matter  to  escape.  In  a  few 
da3'S  the  shoe  must  be  taken  off  again,  and  any  ragged 
pieces  of  horn  removed,  as  well  as  the  opening  enlarged, 
if  necessary.  Sometimes  a  prick  occurs  from  a  nail  picked 
up  on  the  road,  and  then  the  accident  must  be  treated  ex- 
actly as  if  it  occurred  in  shoeing. 

QuiTTOR  is  a  disease  very  nearly  allied  to,  and  frequently 
growing  out  of,  neglected  cases  of  nail-pricking.  Concern- 
ing this  disease,  Dr.  Dadd  writes  as  follows :  * 

Quittor  is  a  fistulous  opening  running  between  the  sen- 
sible and  insensible  limince  of  the  foot ;  the  opening,  or 
sinus^  runs  in  various  directions  downward ;  at  other  times, 
the  lateral  cartilages  are  in  connection  with  it,  and  become 
diseased.  It  generally  makes  its  ajDpearance  on  the  inside 
of  the  foot,  near  the  matrix  of  the  hoof  In  such  case,  its 
origin  is  from  braise  or  wound.  It  arises  also  from  pricks 
in  shoeing,  gravel,  neglected  corns,  &c.  Should  a  nail  enter 
the  sensitive  lamin;:e  of  the  foot,  and  cause  suppuration,  and 
the  lower  outlet  become  plugged  up,  the  matter  moves  up- 
ward, burrowing  through  the  tissues,  until  it  gains  exit 
above  the  hoof. 

Treatment. — We  first  examine  the  sinus  by  means  of  a 
small-sized,  flexible  bougie,  such  as  are  used  on  young 
persons.  'EQing  flexible^  we  are  enabled  to  trace  the  cavity, 
whatever  direction  it  may  take.  Having  discovered  that, 
we  make  up  our  mind  as  to  the  treatment.  Should  it 
descend  towards  the  sole,  it  is  caused  either  by  prick,  corn, 
or  gravel,  which  can  be  ascertained  on  careful  examination. 
In  order  to  make  such,  we  remove  the  shoe,  pare  the  foot, 
and  perhaps  poultice  it,  with  the  double  object  of  softening 
the  hoof  and  removing  obstructions  to  the  lower  outlet,  if 
any  there  be.     Whether  the  cause  be  evident  or  not,  we 

*  Dadd's  Modern  Horse  Doctor. 


216 

waste  no  time  in  injecting  the  sinus,  (which  is  practised  by 
many,)  but  make  a  small  opening  in  the  sole,  as  near  the 
base  of  the  sinus  as  possible,  and  invite  a  discharge  from  it 
by  means  of  a  poultice  placed  only  in  contact  with  the  sole. 
A  free  discharge  once  secured  from  the  lower  outlet,  we 
have  no  fears  of  a  cure.  So  soon  as  a  discharge  sets  up, 
inject  from  below  strong  tincture  of  bloodroot,  two  or  three 
times,  and  then  sprinkle  some  bloodroot  in  the  cavity ; 
there  is  no  need  of  any  bandage ;  let  the  matter  have  free 
vent.  The  upper  orific:)  wdli  now  close;  it  is  only  neces- 
sary to  moisten  this  region  with  compound  tincture  of  aloes, 
or  some  other  traumatic. 

During  this  treatment  the  horse  must  be  kept  on  light, 
soft  food,  and  his  bowels  must  be  kept  in  a  somewhat  re- 
laxed condition. 

Over-reaching  consists  in  the  striking  of  the  heel  of  the 
fore  foot  with  the  toe  of  the  hind  shoe.  It  seldom  occurs 
except  in  saddle-horses  which  are  too  slow  in  moving  their 
fore  feet,  and  this  faulty  action  may  be  remedied  by  training 
the  horse  to  a  light  "gathered"  movement,  as  directed  in 
the  chapter  on  Baucher's  method  of  training.  When  a 
wound  has  been  inflicted  by  over-reaching,  the  best  treat- 
ment is  to  dry  up  the  discharge  as  soon  as  possible,  which 
may  best  be  done  by  the  use  of  tincture  of  arnica,  of  full 
strength,  or,  in  the  absence  of  this,  of  gunpowder.  If 
the  discharge  is  allowed  to  continue,  it  is  ver}^  apt  to  de- 
generate into  Quittor^  and  to  cause  much  trouble. 

The  cut  of  the  heel  in  over-reaching  is  caused  not  by 
the  clip  of  the  hind  shoe,  but  by  the  back  part  of  the  web 
at  the  toe  of  the  shoe,  which,  being  made  square  at  first, 
is  soon  worked  to  a  sharp  edge.  If,  when  the  shoe  is 
made,  that  part  of  the  web  be  filed  to  a  round  edge,  there 
will  be  little  danger  of  a  severe  cut. 

Clicking,  or  forging,  which  is  a  limited  over-reach, 
9 


STOPPING  THE   FEET.  217 

and  whicli  is  often  noticed  in  trotting  horses,  whetlier  un- 
der the  saddle  or  in  harness,  is  a  striking  of  the  shoe  of 
the  fore  foot  with  the  toe  of  the  shoe  of  the  hind  foot. 
The  parts  of  the  fore  shoe  which  are  thus  struck  may  be 
known  from  being  worn  brighter  than  the  rest  of  the  shoe, 
and  if  these  parts  are  filed  away  the  diffiulty  will  generally 
cease. 

Stopping  the  feet,  which  belongs  to  "Grooming" 
rather  than  to  "Farrieing,"  consists  of  filling  the  space  be- 
tween the  shoe  and  the  hoof,  and  all  within  the  inner  cir- 
cumference of  the  shoe,  with  some  material  which  will 
gradually  impart  moisture  to  the  foot.  It  should  always 
be  resorted  to  whenever  there  is  the  least  tendency  to  dry- 
ness or  fever  in  the  feet,  and  there  is  an  advantage  in 
stopping  the  feet  of  all  horses  as  often  as  every  other  night. 
The  stopping  should  be  very  carefully  removed  before  the 
horse  goes  out. 

The  best  material  for  stopping  are : 

1 — Pure  cow-dung, — recently  dropped. 

2— Wet  clay. 

3 — Cow-dung  and  clay,  mixed. 

4 — "Wet  oakum. 

5 — ^Linseed  meal. 

6 — A  mixture  of  tar,  tallow,  clay  and  cow-dung. 

A  change  from  one  of  these  to  another  will  be  found 
beneficial,  though,  in  the  country,  cow-dung  is  usually  the 
most  convenient,  and  it  is  quite  as  good  as  any  of  the 
others. 

10 


CHAPTER   XV. 

HOW   TO   SHOE   A    HOKSE. 

.  "DNSKILFUL  SHOERS — ANATOMY  OF  THE  FOOT  ILLUSTRATED— THE  FOOT  OP 
A  COLT — PREPARATION  OF  THE  FOOT — REMOVING  THE  OLD  SHOE— PARING 
THE  FOOT — THE  SHOE— FITTING  THE  SHOE — NAILING — NUMBER  OF  NAILS — 
DISEASES  OF  THE  FOOT. 

Although  it  is  an  almost  universal  custom  to  entrust  the 
shoeing  of  horses  to  the  Knight  of  the  Hammer  and 
Tongs  who  happens  to  be  nearest  to  one's  stable,  and  to 
pay  but  little  regard  to  the  manner  in  which  the  work  is 
done,  there  are  very  few  who  are  not  ready  to  admit  that 
the  operation  is  frequently  performed  in  an  unskilful  man- 
ner, and  that  their  horses  would  be  more  serviceable,  and 
would  perform  their  work  with  much  greater  comfort  to 
tbemselves,  if  their  owners  knew  exactly  how  and  when 
the  shoeing  should  be  done ;  and  would  insist  on  its  being 
done  at  the  right  time,  and  in  the  right  manner. 

There  is  hardly  auy  other  class  of  mechanics  who  com- 
bine so  much  ignorance  of  the  principles  on  which  their 
art  is  founded,  with  so  much  conceit  of  their  knowledge, 
as  do  ordinary  horse-shoers ;  and  it  should  be  one  of  the 
first  duties  of  the  horse  owner  to  inform  himself  of  the 
construction  and  nature  of  the  horse's  foot,  the  reasons  why 
shoeing  is  necessary  at  all,  what  parts  of  the  foot  it  pro- 
tects, what  is  the  best  form  of  shoe  to  effect  the  purpose, 
how  it  may  be  best  fastened  to  the  foot,  and  how  often  it 
should  be  removed. 

[218] 


ANATOMY   OF   THE   FOOT. 


219 


To  illustrate  these  fundamental  points,  cuts  are  "here  in- 
troduced, showing  the  constrnctio!)  of  the  horse's  foot. 


Fig.  8. 
Shows  tbe  ground  surface  of  the  hoof  prepared  for  receiving  a  shoe  ;  and  marks  very 
listinctly  the  difference  between  the  curvature  of  the  outer  and  inner  quarters. 
a  The  toe — rasped  away  to  receive  the  turned-up  shoe,     a  1.  The  inner  toe.     a  2.  The 
outer  toe.     b  1.  The  inner  quarter,     b  2.  The  outer  quarter,      c  1.  The  inner  heel. 
c  2.  The  order  heel,    d  d  d.  The  sole,    e  e.  The  crust  or  wall  of  the  hoof.  //.  The  bars. 
g g.  The  commissures,     hkl.  The  frog. 

{h.      The  part  immediatelv  under  the  navicular  joint. 
k.      The  oval  cleft  of  the' frog. 
I.       The  elevated  boundary  of  the  cleft. 
i  i.    The  bulbs  of  the  heels. 

As  the  various  parts  of  the  horse's  foot  cannot  be  better 
described  for  the  purposes  of  this  Avork  than  they  have 
been  by  Mr.  MDes  (from  whose  manual  the  above  cuts  are 
transferred),  extracts  are  here  made  from  his  description  : 

The  hoof  is  divided  into  horny  crust  or  wall,  sole,  and  frog. 

The  horny  crust  is  secreted  by  the  numerous  blood- 
vessels of  that  soft  protruding  band  which  encircles  the 
upper  edge  of  the  hoof,  immediately  beneath  the  termina- 
tion of  the  hair ;  and  is  divided  into  toe,  quarters,  heels, 
and  bars.  Its  texture  is  insensible,  but  elastic  throughout 
its  whole  extent ;  and,  yielding  to  the  weight  of  the  horse, 
allows  the  horny  sole  to  descend,  whereby  much  inconven- 
ient concussion  of  the  internal  parts  of  the  foot  is  avoided. 
But  if  a  large  portion  of  the  circumference  of  the  foot  be 


220  HOW   TO  SHOE   A  HORSE. 

fettered  by  iron  and  nails,  it  is  obvious  that  that  portion, 
at  least,  cannot  expand  as  before ;  and  the  beautifal  and 
efficient  apparatus  for  effecting  this  necessary  elasticity, 
being  no  longer  allowed  to  act  by  reason  of  these  restraints, 
becomes  altered  in  structure :  and  the  continued  operation 
of  the  same  causes,  in  the  end,  circumscribes  the  elasticity 
to  those  parts  alone  where  no  nails  have  been  driven, — 
giving  rise  to  a  train  of  consequences  destructive  to  the 


a.  Is  a  broad  flat  mass  of  horn,  projecting  upwards  into  the  middle  of  the  elastic 
cushion,  and  is  called  the  "  frog  stay." 

b  h.  Are  two  horny  projections  rising  into  the  cavity  of  the  hoof  formed  by  the 
commissures. 

c  c.  Are  portions  of  the  same  projections,  and  are  situated  just  under  the  two  ends  of 
the  navicular  bone,  and  mark  the  point  on  either  side  where  diminution  in  the 
natural  elasticity  of  the  fatty  frog  would  be  felt  with  the  greatest  severity  by 
the  navicular  joint :  for  under  the  most  favorable  circumstances,  the  quantity 
of  cushion  between  these  points  and  the  navicular  joint  cannot  be  very  large  ; 
and  hence  the  importance  of  our  doing  all  we  can  to  preserve  its  elasticity  as 
long  as  possible. 

soundness  of  the  foot,  and  fatal  to  the  usefulness  of  the 
horse.* 

The  toe  of  the  fore  foot  is  the  thickest  and  strongest 
portion  of  the  hoof,  and  is  in  consequence  less  expansive 
than  any  other  part,  and  therefore  better  calculated  to 
resist  the  effect  of  the  nails  and  shoe.  The  thickness  of 
the  horn  gradually  diminishes  towards  the  quarters  and 

*  The  horse's  foot,  and  how  to  keep  it  sound,  with  illustrations,  by  Wra 
Miles,  Esq. 


ANATOMY  OF  THE   FOOT. 


221 


heels,  particularly  on  the  inner  side  of  the  foot,  whereby 
the  power  of  yielding  and  expanding  to  the  weight  of  the 
horse  is  proportionably  increased,  clearly  indicating  that 
those  parts  cannot  be  nailed  to  an  unyielding  bar  of  iron, 
without  a  most  mischievous  interference  with  the  natural 
functions  of  the  foot.  In  the  hind  foot,  the  greatest  thick- 
ness of  horn  will  be  found  at  the  quarters  and  heels,  and 
not,  as  in  the  fore  foot,  at  the  toe.  This  difference  in  the 
thickness  of  horn  is  beautifully  adapted  to  the  inequality  of 
the  weight  which  each  has  to  sustain,  the  force  with  which 


Fig.  10. 


tiou  (if  theF*  ct. 


1.  The  coronet  bone.     2.  The  coffin  bone.     3.  The  navicular  bone. 

a.  The  wall.  b.  The  sole.  c.  The  cleft  of  the  frog.  del.  The  frog.  ee.  The  fatty- 
frog,  or  elastic  cushion.  /.  The  sensitive  sole.  g.  The  sensitive  frog.  hhh.  Ten- 
dons of  the  muscles  which  bend  the  foot.  t.  Part  of  the  pastern  bone. 
kk.  Tendons  of  the  muscles  which  extend  the  foot.  I.  Tlie  cofijn  joint,  m.  The 
navicular  joint.  n.  The  coronary  substance.  o.  The  sensible  laminae,  or 
covering  of  the  coffin  bone. 


it  is  applied,  and  the  portions  of  the  hoof  upon  which  it 
falls.  The  toe  of  the  fore  foot  encounters  the  combined 
force  and  weight  of  the  fore  hand  and  body,  and  conse- 
quently in  a  state  of  nature  is  exposed  to  considerable 
wear  and  tear,  and  calls  for  neater  strens^th  and  substance 
of  horn  than  is  needed  by  any  portion  of  the  hind  foot, 
where  the  duty  of  supporting  the   hinder  parts  alone  is 


222  HOW   TO   SHOE   A   HOKSE. 

distributed  over  the  quarters  and  heels  of  both  sides  of 
the  foot. 

The  bars  are  continuations  of  the  wall,  reflected  at  the 
heels  towards  the  centre  of  the  foot,  where  they  meet  in  a 
point,  leaving  a  triangular  space  between  them  for  the 
frog. 

The  whole  inner  surface  of  the  horny  crust,  from  the 
centre  of  the  toe  to  the  point  where  the  bars  meet,  is  every- 
where lined  with  innumerable  narrow,  thin  and  projecting 
horny  plates,  which  extend  in  a  slanting  direction  from 
the  upper  edge  of  the  wall  to  the  line  of  junction  between 
it  and  the  sole,  and  possess  great  elasticity.  These  pro- 
jecting plates  are  the  means  of  greatly  extending  the  sur- 
face of  attachment  of  the  hoof  to  the  coffin  bone,  which  is 
likewise  covered  by  a  similar  arrangement  of  projecting 
plates,  but  of  a  highly  vascular  and  sensitive  character; 
and  these,  dovetailing  with  the  horny  projections  above- 
named,  constitute  a  union  combining  strength  and  elasticity 
in  a  wonderful  degree. 

The  horny  sole  covers  the  whole  inferior  surface  of  the 
foot,  excepting  the  frog.  In  a  well-formed  foot  it  presents 
an  arched  appearance  and  possesses  considerable  elasticity, 
by  virtue  of  which  it  ascends  and  descends,  as  the  weight 
above  is  either  suddenly  removed  from  it,  or  forcibly  ap- 
plied to  it.  This  descending  property  of  the  sole  calls  for 
our  especial  consideration  in  directing  the  form  of  the  shoe ; 
for,  if  the  shoe  be  so  formed  that  the  horny  sole  rests  upon 
it,  it  cannot  descend  lower ;  and  the  sensible  sole  above, 
becoming  squeezed  between  the  edge's  of  the  coffin  bone 
and  the  horn,  produces  inflammation,  and  perhaps  abscess. 
The  effijct  of  this  squeezing  of  the  sensible  sole  is  most 
commonly  witnessed  at  the  angle  of  the  inner  heel,  where 
the  descending  heel  of  the  coffin  bone,  forcibly  pressing 
the  vascular  sole  upon   the  horny   sole,  ruptures  a  small 


ANATOMY    OF   THE   FOOT.  223 

blood-vessel,  and  produces  what  is  called  a  corn,  but  which 
is,  in  fact,  a  bruise. 

The  horny  frog  occupies  the  greater  part  of  the  trian- 
gular space  between  the  bars,  and  extends  from  the  hinder- 
most  part  of  the  foot  to  the  centre  of  the  sole,  just  over 
the  point  where  the  bars  meet ;  but  is  united  to  them  only 
at  their  upper  edge :  the  sides  remain  unattached  and 
separate,  and  form  the  channels  called  the  "Commissures." 

If  we  carefully  observe  the  form  and  size  of  the  frog 
in  the  foot  of  a  colt  of  from  four  to  five  years  old,  at  its 
first  shoeing,  and  then  note  the  changes  which  it  under- 
goes as  the  shoeings  are  repeated,  we  shall  soon  be  con- 
vinced that  a  visible  departure  from  a  state  of  health  and 
nature  is  taking  place.  At  first  it  will  be  found  large  and 
full,  with  considerable  elasticity;  the  cleft  oval  inform, 
open,  and  expanding,  with  a  continuous,  well-defined,  and 
somewhat  elevated  boundary ;  the  bulbs  at  the  heels  fully 
developed,  plump  and  rounded ;  and  the  whole  mass  oc- 
cupying about  one-sixth  of  the  circumference  of  the  foot. 
By  degrees  the  fulness  and  elasticity  will  be  observed  to 
have  diminished ;  the  bulbs  at  the  heels  will  shrink,  and 
lose  their  plumpness  ;  the  cleft  will  become  narrower, 
its  oval  form  disappear,  the  back  part  of  its  boundary 
give  way,  and  it  will  dwindle  into  a  narrow  crack,  ex- 
tended back  between  the  wasted,  or  perhaps  obliterated 
bulbs,  presenting  only  the  miserable  remains  of  a  frog, 
such  as  may  be  seen  in  the  feet  of  most  horses  long  accus- 
tomed to  be  shod. 

The  bones  proper  to  the  foot  are  three  in  number, — viz., 
the  coffin  bone,  the  navicular  bone,  and  part  of  the  coro- 
net bone :  they  are  contained  within  the  hoof,  and  combine 
to  form  the  cofiin  joint ;  but  the  smallest  of  them,  the  na- 
vicular bone,  is  of  far  more  importance  as  connected  with 
our  subject  of  shoeing,  than  either  of  the  others ;  for  upon 


224  HOW   TO   SHOE   A  HORSE. 

the  healthy  condition  of  this  bone,  and  the  joint  formed 
between  it  and  the  tendon,  which  passes  under  it  to  the 
coffin  bone,  and  is  called  the  navicular  joint,  mainly  de- 
pends the  usefulness  of  the  horse  to  man. 

This  small  bone,  which  in  a  horse  sixteen  hands  high 
measures  only  two  and  a  quarter  inches  in  its  longer  di- 
ameter, three-fourths  of  an  inch  at  the  widest  part  of  its 
shorter  diameter,  and  half  an  inch  in  thickness  in  the 
centre,  its  thickest  part,  has  the  upper  and  under  surfaces 
and  part  of  one  of  the  sides  overlaid  with  a  thin  coating 
of  gristle,  and  covered  by  a  delicate  secreting  membrane, 
very  liable  upon  the  slightest  injury  to  become  inflamed  ; 
it  is  so  placed  in  the  foot  as  to  be  continually  exposed  to 
danger ;  being  situated  across  the  hoof,  behind  the  coffin 
bone,  and  immediately  under  the  coronet  bone ;  whereby 
it  is  compelled  to  receive  nearly  the  whole  weight  of  the 
horse  each  time  that  the  opposite  foot  is  raised  from  the 
ground. 

The  coffin  bone  consists  of  a  body  and  wings ;  and  is 
fitted  into  the  hoof,  which  it  closely  resembles  in  form.  Its 
texture  is  particularly  light  and  spongy,  arising  from  the 
quantity  of  canals  or  tubes  that  traverse  its  substance  in 
every  direction,  affording  to  numerous  blood-vessels  and 
nerves  a  safe  passage  to  the  sensitive  and  vascular  parts 
surrounding  it ;  while  the  unyielding  nature  of  the  bone 
effectually  protects  them  from  compression  or  injury,  under 
every  variety  of  movement  of  the  horse. 

In  an  unshod  foot,  the  front  and  sides  of  the  coffin  bone 
are  deeply  furrowed  and  roughened,  to  secure  the  firmer 
attachment  of  the  vascular  membranous  structure,  by  which 
the  bone  is  clothed ;  but  in  the  bone  of  a  foot  that  has 
been  frequently  shod,  this  appearance  is  greatly  changed, 
the  furrows  and  roughness  giving  place  to  a  comparatively 
smooth  surface.     This  change  I  imagine  to  be  produced 


PEEPARATION    OF   THE   FOOT.  225 

by  tlie  slice  limiting,  if  not  destroying,  the  expansive 
power  of  that  part  of  the  horn  to  which  it  is  nailed ; 
whereby  a  change  of  structure  in  the  membrane  itself,  as 
well  as  absorption  of  the  attaching  portions  of  the  bone,  is 
induced ;  for  it  is  an  invariable  law  of  the  animal  economy 
not  to  continue  to  unemployed  structures  the  same  meas- 
ure of  efficient  reparation  that  is  extended  to  parts  con- 
stantly engaged  in  performing  their  allotted  tasks.  The 
shoe  restricts  or  prevents  expansion  ;  while  nature,  as  the 
secret  influence  is  called,  immediately  sets  to  work  to  sim- 
plify the  apparatus  for  producing  the  expansion,  which  art 
has  thus  rendered  impracticable,  and  substitutes  for  it  a 
new  structure,  less  finely  organized,  but  admirably  suited 
to  the  altered  condition  of  the  parts.  ^ 

The  wings  extend  from  the  body  of  the  bone  directly 
backwards,  and  support  the  "  lateral  cartilages"  of  the  foot. 

The  sensitive  sole,  or,  as  it  is  sometimes  called,  the  fleshy 
sole,  is  about  the  eighth  of  an  inch  thick,  and  is  almost 
entirely  made  up  of  blood-vessels  and  nerves ;  it  is  one  of 
the  most  vascular  and  sensitive  parts  of  the  body,  and  is 
attached  to  the  lower  edge  of  the  sensitive  covering  of  the 
coffin  bone, — to  the  bars, — and  point  of  the  frog, — and 
also  with  great  firmness  to  the  whole  of  the  arched  under- 
surface  of  the  coffin  bone. 

The  sensitive  frog  includes  not  only  the  part  correspond- 
ing to  the  sensitive  sole,  but  also  the  peculiar  spongy 
elastic  substance  which  intervenes  between  it  and  the  na- 
vicular joint,  and  fills  the  space  between  the  cartilages. 
The  proper  sensitive  frog  is  thicker,  and  less  finely  organ- 
ized, than  the  sensitive  sole,  possessing  fewer  blood-ves- 
sels and  nerves. 

Before  treating  of  the  preparation  of  the  foot  for  the 
reception  of  a  shoe,  it  is  desirable  to  correct  the  generally 
received,  but  erroneous  opinion,  that  the  shape  of  a  per- 
10^  .       . 


226  HOW   TO   SHOE  A  HOESE. 

feet  foot  is  circular,  or  very  nearly  so.  It  is  this  opinion 
that  leads  the  generality  of  smiths  to  direct  their  energies 
towards  reducing  the  foot  to  that  shape  as  soon  as  possible ; 
indeed,  so  impatient  are  some  persons  to  commence  this 
work  of  settmg  nature  right,  that  they  cause  their  colts' 
feet  to  be  '■^  put  in  order ^'^ — as  the  mischievous  interference 
is  called, — long  before  the  process  of  "breaking"  has  ren- 
dered the  evil  of  shoeing  necessary.  There  are  very  few 
things  so  little  varied  in  nature  as  the  form  of  the  ground 
surface  of  horses'  feet ;  for  whether  the  hoof  be  high 
heeled  and  upright, — or  low-heeled  and  flat, — ^large  or 
small, — broad  or  narrow,— the  identical  form  of  ground  sur- 
face is  maintained  in  each,  so  long  as  it  is  entirely  left  to 
nature's  guidance.  The  outer  quarter,  back  to  the  heel, 
is  curved  considerably  and  abruptly  outwards,  while  the 
inner  quarter  is  carried  back  in  a  gradual  and  easy  curve. 
The  advantage  of  this  form  is  so  obvious,  that  it  is  m.atter 
for  wonder  it  should  ever  be  interfered  with.  The  en- 
larged outer  quarter  extends  the  base  and  increases  the 
hold  of  the  foot  upon  the  ground ;  while  the  straighter 
inner  quarter  lessens  the  risk  of  striking  the  foot  against 
the  opposite  leg. 

The  inclination  of  the  front  of  the  horny  crust  of  the 
foot  should  be  at  an  angle  of  about  45  degrees.  If  the 
foot  is  much  steeper  than  this  it  is  very  liable  to  contract, 
while,  if  it  is  much  more  slanting,  it  constitutes  what  is 
called  the  "  oyster  shell"  foot,  in  which  there  is  an  undue 
flatness  of  the  sole,  and  a  tendency  to  pumiced  feet. 

Bearing  in  mind,  now,  the  nature  of  the  various  parts  of 
the  foot  of  the  horse,  we  will  consider  the  manner  in 
which  the  practical  operations  of  shoeing  should  be  con- 
ducted, and  the  reasons  for  adopting  some  improvements 
on  the  general  custom  of  our  smiths. 

Before  removing  the  old  shoo,  care  should  be  taken  to 


PARING   THE   FOOT.  227 

raise  all  tlie  clincLcs  of  tlie  nails  to  prevent  injury  to  the 
crust,  and  to  avoid  giving  pain  to  tlie  horse  ;  even  after 
clinches  are  raised,  if  the  shoe  cannot  be  easily  drawn  off, 
those  nails  which  seem  to  hold  most  firmly  should  be 
punched,  or  drawn  out,  that  the  shoe  may  be  removed 
without  injury  to  the  hoof,  and  without  weakening  the 
nail  hold  for  the  new  shoeing. 

The  shoe  being  removed,  the  edge  of  the  crust  should  be 
well  rasped  to  remove  so  much  of  the  horn  as  would  have 
been  worn  away  by  contact  with  the  ground,  had  it  been  un- 
shod. In  no  case  should  the  rasp  be  used  on  the  surface  of 
the  hoof,  except  to  make  the  necessary  depressions  for  the 
clinches,  after  the  new  shoe  has  been  put  on,  and  to  shape 
the  hoof  helow  the  line  of  the  clinches  of  the  nails.  The 
hoof,  above  this  line,  will  inevitably  be  injured  by  such 
treatment,  which  is  one  of  the  m6st  fertile  sources  of  brit- 
tleness  of  the  horn,  which  often  results  in  "sand crack." 

The  operation  of  paring  out  the  horse's  foot  is  a  matter 
requiring  both  skill  and  judgment,  and  is,  moreover,  a 
work  of  some  labor,  when  properly  performed.  It  will 
be  found  that  the  operator  errs  much  oftener  by  removing 
too  little  than  too  much  ;  at  least  it  is  so  with  the  parts 
vdiich  ought  to  be  removed,  whicli  are  almost  as  hard  and 
unyielding  as  a  flint,  and,  in  their  most  favorable  state,  re- 
quire considerable  exertion  to  cut  through. 

It  would  bo  impossible  to  frame  any  rule  applicable  to 
paring  out  of  all  horses'  feet,  or,  indeed,  of  the  feet  of  the 
same  horse  at  all  times :  for  instance,  it  is  manifestly  un- 
wise to  pare  the  sole  as  thin  in  a  hot,  dry  season,  when  the 
roads  are  broken  up,  and  strewed  with  loose  stones,  as  in 
a  moderately  wet  one,  when  they  are  well  bound  and  even ; 
for,  in  the  former  case,  the  sole  is  in  perpetual  danger  of 
being  bruised  by  violent  contact  with  the  loose  stones, 
and  consequently   needs  a  thicker  layer  of  horn  for  its 


228  HOW   TO   SHOE  A   HOKSE. 

})rotection ;  while  the  latter  case  ofiPers  the  most  favorable 
surface  that  most  of  our  horses  ever  have  to  travel  upon, 
ajid  should  be  taken  advantage  of  for  a  thorough  paring 
out  of  the  sole,  in  order  that  the  internal  parts  of  the  foot 
may  derive  the  full  benefit  arising  from  an  elastic  and  de- 
scending sole ;  a  state  of  things  very  essential  to  the  due 
performance  of  their  separate  functions.  Again :  in  horses 
with  upright  feet  and  high  heels,  horn  grows  very  abun- 
dantly, especially  towards  the  toe ;  and  such  are  always 
benefited  by  having  the  toe  shortened,  the  heels  lowered, 
and  the  sole  well  pared  out ;  while  in  horses  with  flat  feet 
and  low  heels  horn  grows  sparingly ;  and  the  toe  of  such 
feet,  being  always  weak,  will  admit  of  very  little  shorten- 
ing. Such  heels  being  already  too  low,  should  scarcely  be 
touched  with  the  rasp  ;  and  the  sole  presents  such  a  small 
quantity  of  dead  horn,  that  the  knife  should  be  used  with 
great  discretion. 

'  The  corners  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  crust  and  bars 
should  be  well  pared  out,  particularly  on  the  inside ;  for 
this  is  the  common  seat  of  corn,  and  any  accumulation  of 
horn  in  this  situation  must  increase  the  risk  of  bruising 
the  sensible  sole  between  the  inner  point  or  heel  of  the 
coffin  bone  and  the  horny  sole.  I  very  much  doubt  either 
the  utility  or  wisdom  of  leaving  the  bars  projecting  beyond 
the  surface  of  the  sole ;  it  cannot  possibly  increase  the 
power  of  resisting  contraction,  and  this  projecting  rim  is 
left  exposed  to  the  danger  of  being  broken  and  bruised  by 
contact  with  stones  and  other  hard  substances ;  and  it  is 
further  attended  with  the  disadvantage  of  making  the 
cleaning  out  of  these  corners  a  work  of  considerable  inge- 
nuity with  so  unwieldy  an  instrument  as  a  common  draw- 
ing-knife. I  prefer  paring  them  down  to  a  level  with  the 
sole,  or  very  nearly  so  ;  avoiding,  however,  every  approach 
to  what  is  called   "  opening  out  the  heels."  a  most  repre- 


PARING   THE   FOOT.  229 

hensible  practice,  wliicli  means  cuttiDg  away  the  sides  of 
the  bars,  so  as  to  show  an  apparent  increase  of  width  be- 
tween the  heels,  which  may  for  the  time  deceive  the  eye ; 
but  it  is  a  mere  illusion,  purchased  at  the  expense  of  im- 
paired power  of  resistance  in  the  bars,  and  ultimate  con- 
traction of  the  feet.  It  is  self-evident,  that  the  removing 
any  portion  from  the  sides  of  the  bars  must  diminish  their 
substance,  and  render  them  weaker,  and  consequently  less 
able  to  resist,  contraction. 

Youatt  says,  on  the  same  subject: 

The  act  of  paring  is  a  work  of  much  more  labor  than 
the  proprietor  of  the  horse  often  imagines.  The  smith, 
except  he  is  overlooked,  will  frequently  give  himself  as 
little  trouble  about  it  as  he  can  ;  and  that  portion  of  horn 
which,  in  the  unshod  foot,  would  be  worn  away  by  con- 
tact with  the  ground,  is  suffered  to  accumulate  month 
after  month,  until  the  elasticity  of  the  sole  is  destroyed, 
and  it  can  no  longer  descend,  and  its  other  functions  are 
impeded,  and  foundation  is  laid  for  corn,  and  contraction, 
and  navicular  disease,  and  inflammation.  That  portion  of 
horn  should  be  left  on  the  foot,  which  Avill  defend  the  in- 
ternal parts  from  being  bruised,  and  yet  suffer  the  external 
sole  to  descend.  How  is  this  to  be  ascertained?  The 
strong  pressure  of  the  thumb  of  the  smith  will  be  the  best 
guide.  The  buttress,  that  most  destructive  of  all  instru- 
ments, being,  except  on  very  particular  occasions,  banished 
from  every  respectable  forge,  the  smith  sets  to  work  with 
his  drawing-knife  and  removes  the  growth  of  horn,  until 
the  sole  will  yield,  although  in  the  slightest  possible  de- 
gree, to  the  strong  pressure  of  his  thumb.  The  proper 
thickness  of  horn  will  then  remain. 

The  quantity  of  horn  to  be  removed,  in  order  to  leave 
the  proper  degree  of  thickness,  will  vary  with  different 
feet.     From  the  strong  foot,  a  great  deal  must  be  taken. 


230  HOW   TO   SHOE   A   HORSE. 

From  the  concave  foot  the  horn  may  be  removed,  "antil 
the  sole  will  yield  to  a  moderate  pressure.  From  the  flat 
foot,  little  need  be  pared :  while  the  pumiced  foot  should 
be  deprived  of  nothing  but  the  ragged  parts. 

The  crust  should  be  reduced  to  a  perfect  level  all  round, 
but  left  a  little  higher  than  the  sole,  or  the  sole  will  be 
bruised  by  its  pressure  on  the  edge  of  the  seating. 

The  heels  will  require  considerable  attention.  From 
the  stress  which  is  thrown  on  the  inner  heel,  and  from  the 
weakness  of  the  quarter  there,  the  horn  usually  wears 
away  considerably  faster  than  it  would  on  the  outer  one ; 
and  if  an  equal  portion  of  horn  were  pared  from  it,  it 
would  be  left  low^er  than  the  outer  heel.  The  smith  should 
therefore  accommodate  his  paring  to  the  comparative  wear 
of  the  heels,  and  be  exceedingly  careful  to  leave  them  pre- 
cisely level. 

Miles,  after  forcibly  recommending  that  the  frog  (ex- 
cept in  very  rai-e  cases,  of  horses  with  unusually  fast-grow- 
ing frogs),  should  never  be  cut  or  pared;  and  giving 
instances  which  have  come  under  his  own  observation,  and 
which  have  demonstrated  the  truth  of  liis  theory,  says : 

The  first  stroke  of  the  knife  removes  this  thin  horny 
covering  altogether,  and  lays  bare  an  under  surface,  totally 
unfitted,  from  its  moist,  soft  texture,  for  exposure  either  to 
the  hard  ground  or  the  action  of  the  air ;  and  in  conse- 
quence of  such  unnatural  exposure  it  soon  becomes  dry 
and  shiinks:  then  follow  cracks, — the  edges  of  which 
turning  outwards  form  rags ;  these  rags  are  removed  by 
the  smith  at  the  next  shoeing,  whereby  another  such  sur- 
face is  exposed,  and  another  foundation  laid  for  other 
rags ;  and  so  on,  until  at  last  the  protruding,  plump,  elastic 
cushion,  interposed  by  nature  between  the  navicular  joint 
and  the  ground,  and  so  essential  to  its  preservation  from 
injury,  is  converted  by  the  mischievous  interference  of  art 


THE    SHOE.  231 

into  the  dry,  shrunk,  unyielding  apology  for  a  frog,  to  be 
seen  in  the  foot  of  almost  every  horse  that  has  been  regu- 
larly shod  for  a  few  years.  The  frog  is  provided  within 
itself  with  two  very  efficient  modes  of  throwing  off  any 
superfluous  horn  it  may  be  troubled  with  ;  and  it  is  very 
unwise  in  man  to  interfere  with  them :  the  first  and  most 
common  is  the  separation  from  its  surface  of  small  bran- 
like scales,  which,  becoming  dry,  fall  off  in  a  kind  of 
whitish  scurf,  not  unlike  the  dust  that  adheres  to  Turkey 
figs.  The  other,  which  is  upon  a  larger  scale,  and  of  rarer 
occurrence,  is  sometimes  called  *'  casting  the  frog."  A 
thick  layer  of  frog  separates  itself  in  a  body,  and  shells 
off  as  deep  as  a  usual  paring  with  a  knife ;  but  it  is  worthy 
of  remark,  that  there  is  this  very  important  difference  be- 
tween the  two  operations ;  nature  never  removes  the  horny 
covering  until  she  has  provided  another  horny  covering 
beneath,  so  that  although  a  large  portion  of  the  frog  may 
have  been  removed,  there  still  remains  a  perfect  frog  be- 
hind, smaller,  it  is  true,  but  covered  with  horn,  and  in 
every  way  fitted  to  sustain  exposure;  while  the  knife, 
on  the  contrary,  removes  the  horny  covering,  but  is  un- 
able to  substitute  any  other  in  its  stead.  My  advice,  there- 
fore, is,  to  leave  the  frog  to  itself;  nature  will  remove  the 
superfluous  horn,  and  the  rags  can  do  no  harm,  and,  if  un- 
molested, will  soon  disappear  altogether. 

The  shoe  should  have  these  general  features : — 1st.  It 
should  be,  for  ordinary  work,  rather  heavy,  in  order  that 
it  may  not  be  bent  by  contact  with  hard,  uneven  roads ; 
2nd.  It  should  be  wide  in  the  web,  and  of  equal  thickness 
and  width  from  the  toe  to  the  heel,  that  it  may  protect, 
as  much  as  possible,  the  sole,  without  altering  the  natural 
position  of  the  foot.  3rd.  It  should  be  well  drawn  in  at 
the  heels,  that  it  may  rest  on  the  bars,  and  extend  to  the 
outer  edge  of  the  crust  on  the  outside,  and  reach  beyond 


282  HOW   TO  SHOE  A   HORSE. 

the  bar  nearly  to  the  frog,  so  that  there  maj  be  no  danger 
of  its  pressing  on  the  "corn  j^lace"  or  angles  between  the 
bar  and  the  crust.  4th.  It  should,  in  no  part,  extend  be- 
yond the  outer  edge  of  the  crust,  lest  it  strike  against  the 
opposite  leg  when  the  horse  is  travelling,  or  be  stepped 
on  by  another  horse,  or  be  drawn  off  by  a  heavy  soil. 

Such  a  shoe,  and  its  position  on  the  foot,  is  shown  in 
figure  11. 


Fig.  11. 
Represents  the  foot  with  the  shoe  rendered  trauspareut,  showing  what  parts  of  the  foot 
are  covered  and  protected  by  bringing  in  the  heels  of  the  shoe. 

a  a  a.  The  crust,  with  the  shoo  closely  fitted  all  round. 

h  b.      The  bars,  protected  by  the  shoe. 

c  c.      The  heels,  supported  by  the  shoe. 

d.         The  situation  of  corns  protected  from  injury. 

The  shoe  should  be  made  as  nearly  of  this  form  as  the 
shape  of  the  foot  will  allow ;  but  one  niust  never  lose  sight 
of  the  fact  that  the  shoe  is  made  for  the  foot,  and  not  the 
foot  for  the  shoe,  and  that  it  is  eminently  proper  to  make 
the  shoe  to  lit  the  natural  form  of  tlie  foot,  instead,  as  is 
too  often  the  case,  of  paring,  burning,  and  rasping  the  foot, 
until  it  fits  the  shoe,  which  is  made  to  suit  the  ideas  of  the 


FITTING  THE  SHOE.  283 

smith  as  to  what  should  be  the  form  of  the  horse's  foot. 
No  amount  of  paring  can  bring  the  foot  of  a  horse  to  an 
unnatural  figure,  and  leave  it  sound  and  safe  to  work 
with.     Miles  says : 

The  truth  really  is,  that  the  shape  of  the  shoe  cannot 
by  possibility  influence  the  shape  of  the  foot ;  for  the  foot, 
being  elastic,  expands  to  the  weight  of  the  horse  in  pre- 
cisely the  same  degree,  whether  it  be  resting  upon  the 
most  open  or  the  most  contracted  shoe:  it  \b  ihQ  situation 
of  the  nails,  and  not  the  shape  of  the  shoe,  that  determines 
the  form  of  the  foot.  If  the  nails  be  placed  in  the  outside 
quarter  and  toe,  leaving  the  heels  and  quarters  of  the  in- 
side, which  are  the  most  expansive  portions,  free,  no  shape 
that  we  can  give  to  the  shoe  can  of  itself  change  the  form 
of  the  foot.  I  would  not  however  be  "understood  to  mean, 
that  the  shape  of  the  shoe  is  therefore  of  no  importance ; 
for  I  trust  I  have  already  proved  the  contrary.  Seeing 
then  that  the  shape  of  the  foot  is  in  no  way  changed  by 
the  form  of  the  shoe,  both  wisdom  and  interest  would 
prompt  us  to  adopt  that  form  which  possesses  the  greatest 
number  of  advantages  with  the  fewest  disadvantages. 

A  small  clip  at  the  point  of  the  toe  is  very  desirable  as 
preventing  displacement  of  the  shoe  backwards ;  it  need 
not  be  driven  up  hard ;  it  is  merely  required  as  a  check 
or  stay.  The  shoe  should  be  sufficiently  long  fully  to 
support  the  angles  at  the  heels,  and  not,  as  is  too  often  the 
case,  so  short,  that  a  little  wear  imbeds  the  edge  of  it  in 
the  horn  at  these  parts.  The  foot  surface  of  the  shoe 
should  always  have  a  good  flat  even  space  left  all  around 
for  the  crust  to  bear  upon  ;  for  it  must  be  remembered,  that 
the  crust  sustains  the  whole  weight  of  the  horse,  and  needs 
to  have  a  perfectly  even  bearing  everywhere  around  the 
shoe.  In  this  space  the  nail-holes  should  be  punched,  and 
not,  as  is  too  often  the  case,  partly  in  it,  and  partly  in  the 


234  HOW  TO   SHOE  A  HORSE. 

seating.  In  what  is  technicall}^  called  "  back-holing- tlie 
slioe,"  which  means  completing  the  opening  of  the  nail- 
holes  on  the  foot  surface,  great  care  should  be  taken  to 
give  them  an  outward  direction,  so  as  to  allow  the  points 
of  the  nails  to  be  brought  out  low  down  in  the  crust.  The 
remainder  of  the  foot  surface  should  be  carefully  seated 
out,  particularly  around  the  elevated  toe,  where  it  might 
otherwise  press  inconveniently  upon  the  sole ;  and  I  would 
have  the  seating  carried  on  fairly  to  the  point  where  the 
crust  and  the  bars  meet,  in  order  that  there  may  be  no 
pressure  in  the  seat  of  corns :  the  chance  of  pressure  in 
this  situation  will  be  further  diminished  by  bevelling  off 
the  inner  edge  of  the  heels  with  a  rasp. 

The  ground  surface  should  be  perfectly  flat,  with  a  ful- 
lering or  groove  running  round  the  outer  edge,  just  under 
the  plain  surface,  whereon  the  crust  bears.  The  principal 
use  of  the  fuller  is  to  receive  the  heads  of  the  nails  that 
secure  the  shoe,  and  prevent  their  bending  or  breaking 
off : — it  is  further  useful  in  increasing  the  hold  of  the  shoe 
upon  the  ground,  and  with  this  view  I  always  have  it  car- 
ried back  to  the  heels. 

In  fitting  the  shoe  to  the  foot,  it  should  never,  while  red 
hot,  be  burned  into  its  place,  as  this  would  so  heat  the  sen- 
sitive sole  as  to  produce  a  serious  derangement  of  its  parts^ 
but  it  may  with  safety  be  touched  lightly  to  the  foot,  that 
by  a  slight  burning  it  may  indicate  those  points  where  the 
foot  needs  paring  ;  indeed,  it  is  necessary  to  pursue  this 
course  in  order  to  make  the  shoe  so  exactly  fit  the  foot 
that  there  will  be  no  danger  of  its  moving  sufficiently  to 
loosen  the  hold  of  the  nails.  It  is  desirable  to  have  the 
shoe  made  with  steel  in  front,  this  being  sloped  backw^ard 
to  a  line  running  at  right  angles  with  the  upper  slope  of 
the  hoof.  Old  shoes  are  always  worn  to  about  this  form, 
and  new  ones  should  be  so  made.  The  steel  will  prevent 
their  being  unduly  worn. 


THE  NUMBER  OF  NAILS.  235 

Having  so  fitted  the  shoe  that  the  foot  exactly  touches 
it  in  every  part,  the  next  point  is  to  nail  it  fast  to  the  hoof; 
and  on  this  subject  we  can  do  no  better  than  to  quote 
Miles'  very  valuable  remarks : 

The  next  circumstance  to  be  considered  is  one  of  vital  im- 
portance to  our  subject,  as  upon  it  depends  the  amount  of 
disturbance  that  the  natural  functions  of  the  foot  are  des- 
tined to  sustain  from  the  shoe;  viz.,  the  number  and  situa- 
tion of  the  nails  which  are  to  secure  it  to  the  foot.  If  they 
be  numerous,  and  placed  back  in  the  quarters  and  heels, 
no  form  of  shoe,  be  it  ever  so  perfect,  can  save  the  foot 
from  contraction  and  navicular  disease.  If  on  the  contrary 
they  be  few,  and  placed  in  the  outside  quarter  and  toe, 
leaving  the  inside  quarter  and  heels  quite  free  to  expand, 
no  form  of  shoe  is  so  bad  that  it  can,  from  defective  form 
alone,  produce  contraction  of  the  foot. 

Three  years  ago  I  commenced  a  series  of  experiments 
upon  shoeing,  with  a  view,  among  other  things,  of  ascer- 
taining how  few  nails  are  absolutely  necessary,  under 
ordinary  circumstances,  for  retaining  a  shoe  securely  in  its 
place.  The  subjects  of  my  experiments  were  six  horses  of 
my  own,  and  three  belonging  to  friends ;  the  nine  among 
them  representing  very  fairly  the  different  classes  of  pleas- 
ure horses, — not,  indeed,  including  hunters  or  race-horses, 
each  of  which  requires  a  separate  and  totally  different  treat- 
ment, but  carriage-horses,  ladies'  horses,  and  roadsters; 
and  they  also  included  the  common  variations  in  form  and 
texture,  of  the  generality  of  horses'  feet. 

When  my  attention  was  first  directed  to  the  subject  of 
nailing,  I  was  employing  seven  nails  in  each  fore,  and 
eight  in  each  hind  shoe.  I  then  withdrew  one  nail  from 
each  shoe,  thus  reducing  the  number  to  six  in  the  fore  and 
seven  in  the  hind  shoes ;  and  finding  at  the  end  of  a  year 
that_the  shoes  of  all  the  horses  had  been  as  firmly  retained 


236  HOW   TO   SHOE   A   HORSE. 

as  formerly,  I  withdrew  another  nail  from  each  shoe,  leav- 
ing only  five  in  the  fore  shoes  and  six  in  the  hind.  I 
found,  however,  that  six  nails  would  not  retain  the  hind 
shoe  of  a  carriage-horse,  without  allowing  it  sometimes  to 
shift ;  so  I  returned  to  seven  in  the  hind  shoes,  and  have 
contirmed  to  employ  that  number  ever  since :  but  five  have 
retained  all  the  fore  shoes  as  firmly  during  the  whole  of 
the  last  year  and  a  half,  as  six  had  previously  done. 

I  have  luv^ariably  directed  and  superintended  the  whole 
operation  of  shoeing  during  these  experiments  ;  and  have 
always  been  very  careful  to  mark  that  the  nails  were  not 
driven  high  up  in  the  crust,  but  brought  out  as  soon  as 
possible ;  and  that  they  were  very  lightly  driven  up 
before  the  clinches  were  turned  down,  and  not,  as  is  gene- 
rally the  case,  forced  up  with  all  the  power  that  the  smith 
can  bring  to  bear  upon  them  with  his  hammer. 

The  clinches  should  not  be  rasped  away  too  fine,  but 
turned  down  broad  and  firm.  The  practice  of  rasping  the 
whole  surface  of  the  hoof  after  the  clinches  have  been 
turned  down,  should  never  be  permitted ;  it  destroys  the 
covering  provided  by  nature  as  a  protection  against  the 
too  rapid  evaporation  of  the  moisture  of  the  hoof,  and 
causes  the  horn  to  become  dry  and  brittle. 

Two  of  the  horses  alluded  to  above,  worked  for  some 
time  with  only  four  nails  in  their  fore  shoes. 

I  have  detailed  these  experiments  with  a  view  to  expose 
the  groundless  nature  of  the  fear  that  expects  to  cast  a  shoe 
at  every  step,  unless  it  be  held  to  the  foot  by  eight  or  nine 
nails,  driven  high  into  the  crust.  If  the  presence  of  a  nail 
in  the  crust  were  a  matter  of  no  moment,  and  two  or  three 
more  tlian  are  necessary  were  merely  useless,  there  would 
be  no  great  reason  to  interfere  with  this  practice  of  making 
"assurance  doubly  sure;"  but  it  is  far  otherwise; — the 
nails  separate  the  fibres  of  the  horn,  and  they  never  by 


NAILING.  287 

any  chance  become  iimted  again,  but  continue  asunder  and 
unclosed,  until  bj  degrees  they  grow  down  with  the  rest 
of  the  hoof,  and  are  ultimately,  after  repeated  shoeings,  re- 
moved by  the  knife. 

If  the  clinches  should  happen  to  rise,  they  must  be  re- 
placed without  delay;  as  such  rising  imparts  to  the  nails  a 
freedom  of  motion  which  is  sure  to  enlarge  the  size  of  the 
holes, — and  this  mischief  is  often  increased  by  the  violent 
wrenching  which  the  shoe  undergoes  from  side  to  side  in 
the  process  of  removal  by  the  smith. 

Now  as  these  holes  cannot  possibly  grow  down  and  be 
removed  under  three  shoeings,  it  will  be  found  that  even 
with  seven  nails,  the  crust  must  always  have  twenty-one 
of  these  separations  existing  in  it  at  the  same  time ;  and  as 
they  are  often  from  a  variety  of  causes  extended  into  each 
other,  they  necessarily  keep  it  in  a  brittle,  unheal thj^  state, 
and  materially  interfere  with  the  security  of  the  future 
nail-hold. 

During  the  last  six  months  I  have  arranged  my  five 
nails  upon  this  "system  of  one-sided  nailing,"  and  the  re- 
sult has  been  most  satisfactory  ;  the  shoes  have  not  only 
been  firmly,  but  easily  held  to  the  feet,  as  is  evidenced  by 
the  clinches  not  having  risen  in  one  single  instance, — a 
clear  proof  that  the  struggle  between  the  expansion  of  the 
foot  and  the  resistance  of  the  shoe  is  entirely  overcome  by 
this  mode  of  fastening.  This  very  desirable  end  appears 
to  be  attained  in  the  following  manner :  the  outer  side  of 
the  foot,  being  the  only  part  nailed  to  the  shoe,  carries  the 
whole  shoe  with  it  at  every  expansion ;  while  the  inner 
side,  being  unattached,  expands  independently  of  it,  where- 
by all  strain  upon  the  nails  is  avoided,  and  the  foot  is  left, 
with  respect  to  its  power  of  expansion,  as  nearly  as  pos- 
sible in  a  state  of  nature. 

An  unexpected  benefit  has  arisen  to  one  of  my  horses 


288  HOW  TO   SHOE  A   HORSE. 

from  this  plan,  in  the  total  disappearance  of  two  very  trou- 
blesome corns :  they  had  existed  in  his  feet  for  ten  years, 
during  seven  of  which  I  tried  every  plan  that  I  had  ever 
heard  of  as  likely  to  effect  a  cure, — ^both  in  form  of  shoe 
and  local  application, — without,  however,  any  decided  ad- 
vantage ;  but  the  adoption  of  this  plan  of  fastening  the 
shoe  to  the  foot,  by  removing  all  restraint  and  pressure 
from  the  part,  has  accidentally  achieved  that  which  I  had 
so  long  sought  in  vain. 

The  hind  foot  certainly  does  not  demand  the  same  meas- 
ure of  attention  as  the  fore  foot,  inasmuch  as  its  position 
and  the  nature  of  its  ofl&ce  render  it  less  liable  to  in- 
jury, and  consequently  it  is  less  frequently  lame.  It  is, 
however,  by  no  means  entirely  exempt,  nor  does  it  always 
escape  disease  of  its  navicular  joint ;  for  I  have  myself  found 
disease  in  a  navicular  bone  taken  from  a  hind  foot.  This 
being  the  case,  then,  we  should  endeavor  to  guard  against  it 
by  interfering  as  little  as  possible  with  its  expansive  power ; 
and  that  will  be  best  done  by  keeping  the  nails  on  the  in- 
side as  far  removed  from  the  heel  as  we  conveniently  can, 
to  which  end  I  recommend  the  employment  of  seven  nails 
only, — four  to  be  placed  in  the  outer  and  three  in  the  inner 
side  of  the  shoe.  The  holes  in  the  inner  side  are  to  be 
punched  closer  together,  and  kept  more  towards  the  toe 
than  those  on  the  outside,  which  need  to  be  more  spread 
out,  as  affording  greater  security  of  hold  to  the  foot.  The 
shoe  should  be  carefully  fitted  to  the  hoof  all  I'ound,  par- 
ticularly at  the  heels,  which  are  too  commonly  left  without 
any  support  whatever;  and  the  mischievous  custom  of 
turning  down  the  outer  heel  only  must  be  avoided,  because 
it  throws  the  weight  entirely  upon  the  inner  quarter,  which 
is  the  part  the  least  able  to  bear  it,  and  causes  much  un- 
comfortable strain  to  the  fetlock  joint  above.  Calkins, 
even  though  they  may  be  turned  down  of  perfectly  even 


EVILS  OF  BAD   SHOEING. 


239 


lengths  on  eacli  side,  wliich,  however,  is  very  rarely  done, 
are  objectionable  appendages,  and  had  better  be  dispensed 
with,  excepting,  perhaps,  for  very  heavy  draft,  where  their 
ends,  by  entering  the  ground,  may  prevent  the  foot  from 
slipping  backwards,  and  may  thus  enable  the  toe  to  obtain 
a  firmer  hold. 

The  form  of  shoe  here  referred  to,  and  the  position  of 
the  nail  holes,  are  shown  in  figure  12. 


Fig.  12 

a  a.  The  heels  of  an  even  thickness  with  the  rest  of  the  shoe. 
6   b.  Show  the  points  at  which  the  heels  of  the  hoof  terminated, 
c   c.  The  seating  carried  back,  so  as  to  clear  the  angles  at  the  heels,  and  leave  the 
seat  of  corns  free  from  pressure. 

d.  The  nail-holos  placed  in  the  flat  surface  which  supports  the  crust,  where  they 

should  always  be. 

e.  The  hindermost  nail  of  the  inner  side  at  the  inner  toe,  whereby  the  whole  of 

the  quarter  and  heel  are  left  free  to  expand. 

The  directions  for  properly  shoeing  horses  having  now 
been  as  fully  given  as  the  limits  of  this  work  will  allow, 
the  attention  of  the  reader  is  called  to  certain  evils  which 
are  produced  by  bad  shoeing. 

CoNTEACTED  Feet, — that  is,  feet  that  have  shrunken  and 
become  narrow  at  the  heels,  and  of  which  the  frog  has  be- 
come materially  reduced  in  size, — are  often  caused  by  in- 


240  HOW  TO  SHOE   A  HORSE. 

flammation,  arising  from  various  causes,  but  most  frequent- 
ly, without  doubt,  from  improper  shoeing.  It  is  the  custom 
of  many  smiths  to  "  set  the  shoes  well  off  at  the  heels,"  and 
to  carry  the  seating  or  bevel  of  the  upper  side  of  the  shoes 
so  far  back  that  the  heels,  instead  of  resting  on  a  flat  sur- 
face, as  they  would  on  a  properly  fitted  shoe,  rest  on  the 
slope  of  the  seating,  which  are,  in  this  respect,  simply  two 
inclined  planes,  so  placed  that,  at  each  step  taken  by  the 
horse,  his  heels  must  be  pressed  together  until  a  greater 
or  less  contraction  is  made  manifest,  too  late  for  us  to 
remedy  the  evil ;  for  there  is  no  means  by  which  this  con- 
traction of  the  foot  can  be  cured, — though,  when  it  exists 
only  to  a  slight  extent,  the  internal  portions  of  the  foot 
will  sometimes  accommodate  themselves  to  its  new  form. 
So  far  as  disease  is  the  result  of  bad  shoeing,  it  can  be  ob- 
viated by  so  forming  the  shoe  that  it  will  afford  a  sufficient 
and  perfectly  secure  and  level  support  for  the  heels. 

For  the  cause,  and  treatment  of  diseases  of  the  feet,  in- 
cluding those  which  result  from  improper  shoeing,  the 
reader  is  referred  to  the  chapter  on  Farriery. 


CHAPTER    XVL 

BAUCHER'S   METHOD    OF   TRAINING   HORSES   TO   THE    SADDLE. 

WHAT  CONSTITUTES  A  WELL-TRAINED  HORSE — TO  MAKE  HIM  COME  AT  YOUR 
CALL—THE  PHILOSOPHY  OF  TRAINING— FLEXIONS  OF  THE  JAW — FLEXIONS 
OF  THE  NECK — FLEXIONS  OF  THE  CROUP— BACKING THE  PACES — LEAPING. 

There  is  notMng  wMch  so  mucli  conduces  to  tlie  pleas- 
ure and  safety  of  a  rider,  as  the  proper  training  of  his 
horse.  Indeed,  no  matter  how  good  a  rider  one  may  be, 
it  is  impossible  for  him  to  ride  gracefully,  easily  or  safely 
on  a  horse  that  has  not  been  properly  broken  to  the  work. 
It  is  true  that  a  good  rider  can,  by  a  sufficient  exercise  of 
prudence,  get  on  passably  well  with  an  unbroken  horse,  or 
even  a  poor  rider  may,  by  putting  his  horse  into  a  fast 
gallop,  make  up  in  some  degree,  and  for  a  short  time,  for 
want  of  training ;  but  it  is  very  certain  that  both  are  la- 
boring under  great  disadvantages,  and  that  neither  the  rider 
or  his  horse  is  working  with  ease. 

It  is  too  often  supposed  that  all  that  is  necessary  to  con- 
stitute a  good  saddle-horse  is,  that  he  should  allow  a  bit  to 
remain  in  his  mouth,  and  should  carry  his  rider  without 
attempting  to  throw  him,  and  without  viciously  trying  to 
make  himself  disagreeable.  If  he  have  a  dozen  different 
gaits  ;  if  he  carry  his  head  low,  and  his  nose  out, — these 

11  [241] 


242  baucher's  method. 

faults  are  ascribed  to  his  nature^  and  it  is  not  deemed  pos 
sible  to  give  him  an  elegant  carriage.  If  he  bear  with  his 
full  force  on  the  bit,  it  is  considered  an  advantage,  because 
it  gives  the  rider  a  firm  support,  by  enabling  him  to  steady 
himself  in  his  seat  by  bearing  his  weight  on  the  bridle. 

There  have  been  for  ages  more  or  less  imperfect  direc- 
tions given  for  overcoming  these  difficulties,  and  for  bring- 
ing ordinary  horses  into  a  tolerably  good  condition  for  the 
saddle ;  but  they  were  so  tedious  and  so  uncertain  in  their 
results,  that  their  application  was  limited  to  Military  schools, 
and  similar  institutions,  where  it  was  worth  while  to  take 
a  great  amount  of  trouble  to  train  liorses  for  special  w^ork. 

More  recently  M.  Baucher,  a  French  equestrian  of  great 
distinction,  has,  after  giving  many  j^earsto  the  subject,  ad- 
vanced uu  entirely  new  method  for  training  horses  to  the 
saddle,  which  seems  to  be  founded  on  natural  principles 
and  to  be  equally  applicable  to  all  cases.  M.  Baucher  does 
not  claim  that  he  can  make  all  horses  equally  good  for  the 
saddle,  but  he  does  claim,  and  he  seems  to  prove,  that  all 
horses  can  be  made,  by  his  method,  as  good  saddle-horses 
as  they  are  capable  of  becoming,  with  an  outlay  of  yqx^ 
much  less  time  and  labor,  and  with  far  less  pain  to  the  an- 
imal, than  was  necessary  under  the  old  system.  He  also 
asserts  that  any  horse,  not  actually  deformed,  no  mattei 
how  sad  a  jade  he  was  when  taken  in  hand,  wdll  become, 
after  proper  suppling  and  instruction,  a  light  and  graceful 
saddle  beast. 

If  the  horse  to  be  trained  be  vicious,  and  will  not  allow 
himself  to  be  approached  and  properly  handled,  he  should 
of  course  be  subjected  to  the  processes  described  in  the 
chapter  on  Rarey's  method  of  taming  horses ;  but  suppos- 
ing him  to  be  already  tamed,  and  tolerably  docile,  he 
may  be  proceeded  with  according  to  the  following  direc- 
tions : — 


FIRST   LESSONS.  248 


AND   TO   RENDER   HIM   QUIET   WHILE    BEING   HANDLED   AND    MOUNTED. 

The  rider  or  trainer  should  approach  the  horse,  without 
haste  or  timidity,  holding  his  whip  under  his  arm.  He 
should  speak  to  him  in  an  ordinary  tone  of  voice,  and 
should  pat  him  caressingly  on  the  face  and  neck ;  he  will 
then  take  the  reins  of  the  curb-bit  in  the  left  hand,  at  a 
distance  of  six  inches  from  the  branches,  and  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  be  able  to  present  as  much  resistance  as  pos- 
sible to  the  efforts  which  the  horse  will  make  to  release 
himself.  Take  the  whip  in  the  right  hand,  and  raise  it 
quietly  to  the  height  of  the  horse's  breast,  against  which 
it  should  be  struck  at  intervals  of  a  second,  and  with  a 
steady  and  uniform  movement.  This  will,  of  course,  cause 
the  horse  to  draw  back,  in  order  to  get  away  from  the 
whip ;  as  he  recedes,  follow  him  steadily,  keeping  a  uni- 
form pull  upon  the  reins,  and  tapping  the  breast  with  the 
same  steady  movement  of  the  whip.  The  horse  will  soon 
tire  of  his  unsuccessful  attempts  to  back  away  from  the 
pain,  and  will  try  another  movement,  making  a  start  for 
ward.  At  that  instant  the  pressure  on  the  bit  should  be 
discontinued,  and  by  caresses  the  horse  should  be  made  to 
understand  that  he  has  done  as  we  desired,  by  coming 
toward  us,  and  that  in  this  way  he  can  avoid  being  whip- 
ped. Repeat  this  exercise,  and  continue  it  for  half  an 
hour,  being  careful  always  to  follow  the  horse  as  he  re- 
cedes, and  to  reward  him  for  compliance,  by  slacking  the 
hold  of  the  reins,  and  caressing  him.  Be  sure  not  to 
caress  him  when  he  has  not  done  well,  and  not  to  punish 
him  after  he  has  yielded.  This  first  lesson  having  been 
given  in  the  morning,  it  should  be  repeated  for  half  an 
hour  in  the  afternoon.  This  will  be  sufficient  to  cause  the 
most  timid  or  stubborn  horse  to  respond  to  the  least  intima- 


211  baucher's  method. 

tion  of  the  wish  of  his  master,  and  without  being  whipped 
he  will  come  forward  at  the  first  touch  of  the  reins ;  it  will  be 
gratifying  to  the  trainer,  and  useful  to  the  horse  to  repeat  the 
foregoing  operation  once  or  twice  before  each  lesson  during 
the  subsequent  training.  Occasionally  during  the  exer- 
cises the  hand  may  be  borne  down,  so  as  to  depress  the 
head,  to  teach  the  horse  more  ready  submission  to  the  in- 
structions which  are  to  follow.  When  a  horse  will  come 
freely  forward  at  the  least  gesture,  his  progress  may  be 
slightly  checked  by  the  hand,  which  will  cause  him  to 
arch  his  neck,  and  draw  in  his  chin,  approaching  to  the 
perpendicular  position  of  the  face,  which  Baucher  so 
strongly  recommends. 

If  the  horse  be  very  unruly,  it  may  be  necessary,  in  rare 
cases,  to  use  the  cavesson,  (a  nose-band  of  iron,  supported 
by  an  arrangement  similar  to  the  common  halter) ;  but 
such  aids  should  be  eschewed  as  far  as  possible. 

The  following  exercises  are,  like  the  calisthenic  exer- 
cises of  schools,  intended  to  give  strength  and  pliability 
to  the  muscles,  and  grace  to  the  movements.  They  are 
not  immediately  useful,  but  they  render  the  horse  much 
more  serviceable  to  his  rider  than  he  would  be  in  a  state 
of  nature,  because  they  enable  him  to  perform  smoothly 
many  movements  which,  naturally,  he  would  perform  but 
awkwardly ;  and  to  respond  more  readily  to  the  indica- 
tions of  the  hand  or  leg. 

It  is  one  of  the  first  principles  of  M.  Baucher's  system, 
that  all  the  resistances  of  the  young  horse  originate  in  a  phys- 
ical cause,  and  that  they  have  a  moral  cjiuse  only  when  the 
horse  has  been  perplexed,  and  made  resentful,  by  the  un- 
skilfulness,  ignorance,  or  brutality  of  the  rider. 

It  is  often  remarked  that  horses  which  are  considered  in- 
domitable are  those  which  develop  the  greatest  energy 
and  vigor,  as  soon  as  we  know  how  to  remedy  their  phvs- 


Fisr.  16. 


F/V.  IT. 


FIRST   LESSONS.  245 

ical  defects ;  as  with  tliose  which,  in  spite  of  their  bad 
conformation,  are  subjected  by  a  bad  system  of  train- 
ing to  a  semblance  of  oUedience,  we  have  to  thank  noth- 
ing but  the  gentleness  of  their  natures.  K  they  consent 
to  submit  to  the  simplest  exercise,  it  is  on  condition  that 
we  do  not  exact  anything  more  difficult ;  for  they  would 
soon  recover  their  energy  to  resist  any  further  attempts. 

A  well  constituted  horse  is  one,  all  of  whose  powers  are 
regularly  harmonized,  so  as  to  bring  about  a  perfect  equi- 
librium of  the  whole. 

If  we  once  admit  these  truths  : 

That  the  education  of  the  horse  consists  in  the  complete 
subjection  of  his  forces ; 

That  we  can  make  use  of  his  forces  only  by  annulling 
all  of  his  involuntary  resistances ; 

And,  that  these  resistances  have  their  source  in  the  con- 
tractions resulting  from  physical  defects ; — 

It  is  only  necessary  to  seek  out  those  parts  in  which 
these  contractions  operate,  to  combat  them,  and  to  cause 
them  to  disappear. 

Whatever  be  the  fault  of  conformation  which  prevents 
a  just  disposition  of  the  forces  of  the  horse,  it  is  always  in 
the  neck  that  the  most  immediate  effect  is  felt.  There  is 
no  false  movement,  no  resistance,  that  is  not  preceded  by  a 
contraction  of  this  part ;  and  as  the  jaw  is  intimately  con- 
nected with  the  neck,  a  stiffness  of  the  one  is  instantly 
communicated  to  the  other.  These  two  points, are  the  prop 
on  which  the  horse  depends  to  annul  all  of  the  efforts  of 
the  rider.  We  can  easily  conceive  of  the  immense  ob- 
stacles which  they  present,  because  the  neck  and  the 
head  are  the  two  principal  levers  by  which  Ave  control 
and  direct  the  animal,  and  it  is  impossible  to  obtain  any 
influence  over  him  so  long  as  we  do  not  entirely  master 
these  two  indispensable  means  of  action.  Behind,  the  parts 


246 


baucher's  method. 


where  the  forces  most  contract  for  resistance,  are  the  loins 
and  the  croup  (the  haunches). 

The  contractions  of  these  two  opposite  extremities  are,  to 
each  other,  causes  and  effects ;  that  is  to  say,  the  stiffness 
of  the  neck  induces  that  of  the  haunches,  and  vice  versa. 

Flexions  of  the  Jaw. — The  flexions  of  the  jaw,  as 
well  as  the  two  flexions  of  the  neck,  which  are  to  follow, 
are  performed  standing  still,  the  trainer  on  foot.  The 
horse  will  be  led  on  to  the  ground  and  the  reins  passed 
over  his  neck.  The  trainer  will  first  see  that  the  bit,  which 
is  of  the  double  sort  (see  fig,  18),  is  properly  placed,  and 


Fig.  13.— The  Bit  and  Bridoon  Bridte. 

that  the  chain  is  so  fastened  that  the  finger  can  be  easily 
introduced  between  it  and  the  chin.  Then,  looking  the 
animal  kindly  in  the  eyes,  he  will  place  himself  opposite 
his  neck,  and  near  to  his  head ;  the  body  should  be  firm 
and  the  legs  a  little  apart,  to  strengthen  the  position  and  to 


FLEXIONS   OF  THE    JAW.  247 

enable  the  trainer  to  contend  with,  advantage  against  every 
resistance  of  the  horse. 

In  order  to  execute  the  flexions  to  the  right,  the  trainer, 
being  on  the  near  side  of  the  horse  (see  fig.  14),  will  take  the 
right  curb  rein  in  his  right  hand,  at  a  distance  of  about  six 
inches  from  the  branch  of  the  bit,  and  the  left  rein  in  the  left 
hand,  at  a  distance  of  about  four  inches  from  the  branch. 
He  will  then  draw  the  right  rein  toward  him,  and  at  the 
same  time  ,  stretch  out  the  left  hand,  turning  the  bit  in  such 
a  way  as  to  force  the  horse's  mouth  open.  The  force  em- 
ployed ought  to  be  proportioned  to  the  resistance  of  the 
neck  and  the  jaw,  in  order  not  to  render  unsteady  the  po- 
sition of  the  trainer.  If  the  horse  incline  to  back,  to  avoid 
the  flexion,  he  should  be  prevented  from  doing  so  by  hold- 
ing the  hands  firmly  forward.  If  the  previous  exercise 
has  been  practiced  completely  and  with  care,  it  will  be 
easy,  with  the  aid  of  the  Avhip,  to  arrest  this  retrograde 
movement,  which  is  a  powerful  obstacle  to  all  flexions  of 
the  jaw  and  neck. 

As  soon  as  the  horse  yields  to  the  pressure,  and  allows 
his  head  to  be  drawn  around  to  the  right  shoulder,  draw 
gently  and  evenly  on  the  two  reins  until  the  line  of  the 
face  is  perpendicular  to  the  ground,  and  until  the  animal 
will  sustain  his  head  in  this  position  without  bearing  on 
the  bit.  The  champing  of  the  bit  by  the  horse  is  an  evi- 
dence that  he  is  completely  in  hand,  and  entirely  under 
subjection.  Figure  14,  shows  the  position  at  the  commence- 
ment of  this  exercise,  and  fig.  15,  that  at  the  termination. 
He  should  now  be  recompensed  by  a  slackening  of  the 
reins,  and  by  being  allowed,  after  a  few  seconds,  to  regain 
his  natural  position.  The  flexion  of  the  jaw  to  the  left  is 
executed  on  the  same  principles,  and  by  opposite  means, 
and  the  flexions  should  be  alternated  from  the  right  to  the 
left. 


248  baucher's  method. 

Depression  of  the  Neck  and  Direct  Flexion  of 
THE  Jaw. — The  trainer  will  stand  as  before  directed ;  he 
will  take  the  reins  of  the  snaffle  in  the  left  hand,  at  about 
six  inches  from  the  rings,  and  the  curb  reins  in  the  right 
hand,  close  to  the  bit  (see  fig.  16).  He  will  then  bear  down 
with  the  left  hand,  and  will  draw  back  with  the  right, — 
the  force  with  wliich  either  effort  is  made  being  nicely  ad- 
justed to  the  resistance  of  the  horse.  This  figure  repre- 
sents the  position  at  the  commencement,  and  fig.  17  that  at 
the  close  of  this  exercise. 

As  soon  as  the  horse's  head  shall  fall,  as  though  of  its 
own  weight,  all  force  must  cease,  and  the  neck  and  head 
allowed  to  resume  their  natural  position. 

If  the  horse  do  not  readily  lower  his  head  on  feeling  the 
pressure  on  the  top  of  it,  which  this  tension  of  the  snaffle 
reins  produces,  he  may  be  taught  more  prompt  obedience  by 
crossing  the  reins  of  the  snaffle  under  his  chin,  and  drawing 
them  tightly,  so  as  to  compress  the  jaw,  at  the  same  time 
bearing  down  with  as  much  force  as  possible  (see  fig.  18). 
He  will  soon  learn  that  the  tension  of  the  snaffle  means 
"lower  your  head,"  and  he  will  be  quick  to  obey  without 
waiting  for  the  more  painful  part  of  the  operation.  By 
the  direct  flexion  of  the  jaw  we  mean  the  relaxing  of  those 
muscles  by  which  the  mouth  is  shut ;  this  will  ordinarily 
be  accomplished  by  the  action  of  the  curb-bit  in  the  pre- 
ceding exercise,  but  if  the  horse  persist  in  poking  out  his 
nose,  and  holding  the  bit  "  in  his  teeth,"  his  mouth  may 
be  forced  open,  in  a  way  that  he  will  be  likely  to  remem- 
ber, by  the  following  process: — Stand  facing  the  left  side 
of  the  horse's  head,  and  take  the  left  snaffle  rein  in  the 
left  hand,  and  the  left  curb-rein  in  the  right,  both  as  near 
to  the  bit  as  will  allow  of  a  firm  hold.  Now  raise  the 
elbows,  and  draw  the  hands  away  from  each  other  with 
sufficient  strength  to  force  the  jaws  apart  (see  fig.  19).    In 


FLEXIONS   OF  THE  KECK.  249 

this,  as  in  all  other  operations,  the  force  applied  by  the 
trainer  should  be  proportioned  to  the  resistance  of  the  horse. 

Lateral  Flexions  of  the  Neck. — The  trainer  will 
stand  by  the  side  of  the  horse's  shoulder,  as  in  the  flexions 
of  the  jaw.  He  will  take  the  right  snaffle-rein  in  his  right 
hand,  and  draw  upon  it  over  the  horse's  neck,  (see  fig.  20,) 
holding  the  left  snaffle  tight  enough  to  prevent  the  horse 
from  turning  his  body. 

As  soon  as  the  neck  yields  to  allow  the  head  to  go 
round  to  the  right,  the  tension  of  the  left  rein  must  cease. 
When  the  head  is  well  brought  round  (fig,  21),  the  two 
reins  should  be  equally  drawn  upon  until  the  head  as- 
sumes a  perpendicular  position,  and  until  the  horse  evinces 
his  lightness  by  champing  the  bit.  After  having  held  him 
a  few  seconds  in  this  position,  the  head  should  be  gently 
drawn  back  to  its  natural  place.  It  is  important  that  the 
horse  should  not  be  allowed  to  do  anything  of  his  own 
will,  and  his  head  should  be  drawn  back  before  he  tries  to 
move  it  of  his  own  accord.  The  flexion  to  the  left,  which 
should  be  alternated  with  this,  is  of  course  performed  by 
the  opposite  process.  When  this  flexion  can  be  readily 
made  with  the  snaffle,  the  curb-reins  should  be  used  until 
the  least  touch  is  sufficient  to  cause  the  horse  to  turn  his 
head  quite  to  the  shoulder.  This  is  an  exercise  which 
should  be  frequently  repeated,  even  after  the  training  of 
the  horse  has  been  completed,  as  it  will  serve  to  keep  him 
light  and  submissive.  It  is  not  necessary  at  all  times  to 
cause  the  horse  to  bring  his  head  entirely  round ;  it  is 
better  occ.isionally  to  cause  the  head,  pivoting  on  the  neck, 
to  be  lightly  turned  from  side  to  side,  so  that  the  horse 
sh:"ill  look  toward  either  side,  and  not  to  the  rear,  as  in  the 
complete  flexion. 

Latekal  Flexions  of  the  Neck — the  Tkainer  in 
TIT::  Saddle. — For  this  exercise  the  trainer  should  be  in 
11-^ 


250  BAUCHER  S   METHOD. 

the  saddle,  holding  both  reins  of  the  snaffle  in  his  hands  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  barely  feel  the  bit.  He  should  then 
draw  lightly  on  the  rein  of  the  side  toward  which  he  de- 
sires the  horse  to  turn  his  head,  increasing  the  force  as  the 
horse  increases  his  resistance,  and  always  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  to  control  him.  The  horse  will  soon  tire  of  strug- 
gling against  the  bit,  the  continued  pressure  of  which 
causes  an  increasing  pain,  and  he  will  sooner  or  later  incline 
his  head  toward  the  side.  As  soon  as  the  head  is  drawn 
well  round  to  the  side,  the  rein  of  the  opposite  side  must 
be  drawn  upon  as  well  as  the  other,  so  as  to  place  the 
head  in  a  perpendicular  position.  It  is  very  important 
that  this  perpendicular  position  should  always  be  attained, 
as  the  suppling  can  never  be  perfect  without  it.  If  while 
the  head  is  being  drawn  to  one  side,  the  horse  try  to 
avoid  the  pressure  of  the  bit  by  turning  his  body  round, 
the  opposite  snafi&e-rein  may  be  used  to  prevent  him  from 
doing  so. 

Direct  Flexion  of  the  Head  and  Keck,  or  Kame- 
NER.^ — The  trainer  being  in  the  saddle,  he  will  take  both 
of  the  snaffle-reins  in  his  left  hand  (see  fig.  22).  He  will 
then  place  the  edge  of  his  right  hand  on  the  reins,  so  as 
to  give  greater  force  to  the  tension  of  the  left  hand,  and 
by  a  steady  p.ressure  he  will  draw  upon  the  reins  until  the 
horse  yields  and  drops  his  head  toward  his  breast  (fig.  23). 
As  soon  as  he  shows,  by  champing  the  bit,  that  he  main- 
tains this  position  without  aid  from  the  hand  of  the  trainer, 
it  will  be  sufficient  to  raise  the  right  hand  to  reward  him. 
If  the  horse  try  to  back  away  from  the  bit,  a  slight  press- 
ure of  the  legs  will  suffice  to  keep  him  in  his  position. 
When  he  will  yield  to  the  action  of  the  snaffle,  he  will  do 
so  much  more  readily  to  that  of  the  curb-bit.     The  curb 

'^-  By  Ramener  is  meaut  the  placing  the  head  in  a  perpendicular  posi- 
tion. 


Fisr.  21. 


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FLEXIONS  OF  THE  CROUP.  261 

should,  of  course,  be  used  with  much  more  skill  than  the 
snaffle. 

This  flexion  is  the  most  important  of  all ;  the  others 
chiefly  tend  to  render  it  attainable.  As  soon  as  it  can  be 
executed  with  ease  and  promptness,  as  soon  as  a  slight 
touch  of  the  hand  is  sufficient  to  bring  and  maintain  the 
head  in  a  perpendicular  position,  the  contractions  of  the 
fore  part  of  the  animal  are  destroyed,  and  it^  lightness 
and  equilibrium  are  established. 

The  Hind  Parts. — The  rider,  in  order  to  direct  his 
horse,  acts  upon  two  portions  of  his  body, — the  front  and 
the  rear.  He  employs  for  this  purpose  two  movements, — 
one  with  the  legs,  which  gives  an  impulse  to  the  croup 
(the  hind  parts),  the  other  with  the  hands,  which  directs 
and  modifies  this  impulse,  by  the  head  and  neck. 

Flexions  of  the  Croup  and  making  it  Movable. — 
The  trainer,  being  mounted,  willl  hold  the  curb-reins  in 
his  left  hand,  and  the  snaffle-reins  in  his  right.  He  will 
first  bring  the  horse's  head  into  a  perpendicular  position 
by  drawing  lightly  on  the  curb.  Then,  if  he  wishes  to 
execute  the  movement  to  the  right,  he  will  pass  the  left 
leg  back  behind  the  girths,  and  press  it  against  the  horse's 
flank,  until  the  croup  yields  to  the  pressure.  He  will,  at 
the  same  time,  cause  the  left  rein  of  the  snaffle  to  be  felt, 
proportioning  its  tension  to  the  f  )rce  which  is  opposed  to 
it.  The  action  of  the  rein  is  to  combat  the  resistance  of 
the  horse,  and  that  of  the  leg  to  determine  the  movement. 
The  right  leg  should  not  be  kept  away  from  the  horse's 
side  during  the  movement,  but  should  remain  near  to  it 
in  its  natural  position,  to  keep  him  in  place  and  to  aid  a 
slight  forward  impulse,  which  the  right  side  would  natu- 
rally acquire  by  the  rotation  of  the  whole  body  about  a 
centre,  which  should  coincide  with  the  centre  of  gravity  of 
the  horse.     The  force  with  which  the  two  legs  are  pressed 


252 

against  the  sides  should  be  about  equal,  and  the  trainer 
should  bear  in  mind  that  their  office  is  to  turn  the  horse 
between  them,  much  as  one  would  turn  a  stick  held  be- 
tween the  fingers ;  that  is,  by  pressing  against  different 
points  of  the  opposite  sides.  This  lesson  should  be  pro- 
ceeded with  slowljr,  and  so  gradually  as  not  to  discourage 
the  horse.  While  it  is  yet  in  its  early  stages,  the  side-long 
movement,  which  the  French  call  the  manage  de  deux 
'pistes^  may  be  practiced  as  a  variety.  This  may  be  accom- 
plished after  a  week's  practice,  while  the  old  military 
school  did  not  attempt  it  until  after  several  years. 

BACKING. — This  is  an  exercise  which  has  not,  until  Bau- 
cher's  time,  been  sufficiently  appreciated,  but  which  has  a 
very  great  influence  i]Jjfhe  education  of  the  horse.  The 
trainer  should  first  assure  himself  that  the  croup  is  exactly 
on  a  line  with  the  shoulder,  and  that  the  horse  is  light  in 
hand.  The  legs  should  be  pressed  gently  against  the  two 
sides  in  such  a  way  as  to  cause  the  horse  to  lift  one  of  his 
hind  legs,  the  snaffle  being  held  sufficiently  to  prevent  his 
advancing.  An  immediate  pressure  on  the  curb  will  cause* 
the  horse  to  replace  his  foot,  slightly  to  the  rear  of  its 
natural  position.  If  the  horse  shall  have  turned  to  the 
right  or  to  the  left,  he  may  be  brought  into  place  by  the 
aid  of  the  snaffle  and  the  leg,  and  the  movement  of  the 
hind  parts  may  be  repeated.  This  should  be  practiced  for 
a  time  without  trying  to  make  the  pupil  recede  to  any  ex- 
tent, the  first  object  being  to  teach  him  to  use  his  bind 
legs  with  facility,  while  he  retains  his  general  lightness. 
Tills  object  being  accomplished,  it  will  soon  be  possible  to 

*  •'  Lapiste  is  an  imaginary  line  upon  which  the  horse  is  made  to  walk 
When  the  hind  legs  follow  the  same  line  as  the  fore  ones,  the  horse  is  said 
to  go  d'unepi^te,  or  on  one  line.  He  goes  de  deux  pistes,  or  on  two  lines* 
when  his  hind  legs  pass  along  a  line  parallel  to  that  traced  by  the  fore 
legs' '* — Baiicher's  Dictionnaire  d^ Equitation . 


Fig.  22. 


Fiff  -2^.. 


RECAPITULATION — THE   PACES.  253 

make  liim  walk  backward  as  gracefully  and  as  easily  as 
forward.  Bauclier  considers  this  to  be  the  best  exercise  of 
all,  and  its  proper  performance  to  be  the  best  test  of  the 
horse's  education. 

RECAPITULATION. 

Stationary  Exercises — the  Trainer  on  Foot 

1.  Flexions  of  the  jaw  to  the  right  and  to  the  left,  using 
the  curb-bit. 

2.  Direct  flexion  of  the  jaw,  and  the  depression  of  the 
neck. 

3.  Lateral  flexions  of  the  neck  with  the  snaffle  and 
with  the  curb. 

Stationary  Exercises — the  Trainer  on  HorsehacJc. 

1.  Lateral  flexions  of  the  neck  with  the  snaffle  and  th© 
curb. 

2.  Placing  the  head  in  a  perpendicular  position  with  the 
snaffle  and  with  the  curb. 

3.  Lateral  movements  of  the  croup,  and  rotation  of  the 
croup  and  shoulders  around  the  centre  of  gravity. 

4.  Movement  of  the  bind  legs,  and  backing. 

THE   PACES. 

The  young  horse,  at  first  stiff  and  awkward  in  the  use 
of  his  members,  will  need  a  certain  degree  of  manage- 
ment for  the  development  of  his  powers.  We  have  by 
the  preceding  rules,  acquired  a  means  of  acting  on  the 
separate  parts  of  the  horse's  body.  We  mnst  now  facili 
tate  his  means  of  action,  by  exercising  his  forces  together. 
If  the  animal  respond  to  the  aids  of  his  rider,  by  the  jaw, 
the  neck,  and  the  haunches ;  if  he  yield  by  the  general 
disposition  of  his  body  to  the  impulses  which  are  commu- 
nicated to  him ;  if  the  play  of  his  extremities  be  easy  and 
regular,  the  entire  mechanism  of  the  animal  will  move 


254  baucher's  method. 

with  perfect  harmony  in  the  different  paces.  It  is  these 
indisputable  qualities  which  constitute  a  good  education. 

The  AYalk  is  the  mother  of  all  the  other  paces  of  the 
horse ;  b}^  it  we  may  obtain  their  cadence  and  regularity. 

Before  causing  the  horse  to  advance,  we  should  first  as- 
sure ourselves  that  he  is  light  in  hand ;  that  is  to  sa}^,  that 
his  head  is  perpendicular,  his  neck  supple,  and  his  croup 
straight  and  plumb.  The  legs  will  then  be  gently  closed 
to  give  the  horse  a  forward  impulse;  but  we  should  not  at 
the  same  time  slacken  our  hold  on  the  horse's  mouth,  for 
then  the  horse,  free  from  all  restraint,  would  lose  his  light- 
ness, and,  by  the  contraction  of  his  neck,  would  render 
powerless  our  efforts  to  manage  him  properly.  The  rider's 
hand  should  be,  at  all  times,  an  impassable  barrier  to  the 
horse  whenever  he  endeavors  to  move  his  head  from  a 
perpendicular  position.  He  will  soon  accustom  himself  to 
the  fact  that  it  is  only  within  our  limit  that  he  will  find 
ease  and  comfort. 

So  long  as  the  horse  will  not  keep  himself  supple  and 
light  in  his  walk,  we  will  continue  to  exercise  him  on  a 
straight  line ;  but  as  soon  as  he  shall  have  acquired  more 
ease  and  stability,  we  will  commence  to  make  him  turn  to 
the  right  and  to  the  left  in  walking. 

The  Trot. — The  rider  will  commence  this  pace  very 
moderately,  following  exactly  the  same  process  as  for  the 
walk.  He  will  maintain  the  lightness  of  his  horse,  not  for- 
getting that  the  foster  the  pace  becomes,  the  more  he 
inclines  to  fall  back  into  his  natural  stiffness.  The  hand 
should  now  be  used  with  redoubled  skill ;  the  legs  will 
second  the  hand,  and  the  horse,  kept  between  these  two 
barriers,  which  will  be  an  obstacle  only  to  his  faulty  move- 
ments, will  soon  acquire,  with  the  cadence  of  the  step, 
grace,  extension,  and  steadiness. 

The  Gallop.— In  preparing  the  horse  for  the  gallop,  it 


THE   GALLOP.  255 

is  necessary  to  render  him  as  light  as  possible,  in  order  that 
he  will  not  o])pose  our  efforts.  By  a  pressure  of  the  legs, 
the  hind  quarters  are  to  be  brought  well  under  the  body, 
and,  by  a  simultaneous  action  of  the  hand  and  the  legs,  his 
fore  quarters  are  to  be  raised  as  for  a  short  leap.  The  great 
care  of  the  rider  during  the  whole  time  of  training  the 
horse  to  this  pace,  should  be  given  to  keeping  him,  as  much 
as  possible,  in  a  light,  supple,  and  active  condition. 
Although  a  sort  of  gallop  is  the  natural  gait  of  the  horse, 
the  gallop  of  n  well -trained  saddle-horse  is  almost  entirely 
a:ti:ici.il;  an  1,  to  onlain  its  hio^h  action,  o'race,  and  entiie 
subjection  tj  the  will  of  the  rider,  is  more  difl&cult  than  any 
other  exercise  connected  with  training.  It  is  im[)ossible 
for  a  horse  to  gallop  well  until  he  has  been  thoroughly 
suppled,  and  is  in  the  condition  to  act  only  as  he  is  im- 
pelled by  his  rider ;  the  position  of  the  head  and  the  plia- 
bility of  the  neck  must  be  perfect. 

No  horse  can  be  said  to  be  perfectly  trained  to  the  gal- 
lop until  he  can  be  made  to  lead  off  with  either  the  right 
or  the  left  foot,  as  we  may  desire,  or  change  his  leading 
foot  at  every  step,  or  as  often  as  we  may  choose  to  have 
him  do  so ;  not  that  it  is  often  important,  when  a  horse  gal- 
lops well  with  whichever  foot  he  happens  to  lead  off  with, 
whether  he  starts  with  the  left  or  the  right,  but  because 
his  ability  to  change  at  the  least  hint  from  his  rider,  is  an 
indication,  and  a  necessary  one,  that  he  is  in  the  proper 
condition  as  to  lightness  and  submission.  It  is  only  by 
patiently  applying  the  supplings  which  have  been  described^ 
and  by  adapting  them  to  the  altered  necessities  of  the  new 
pace,  that  we  can,  within  a  reasonable  time,  train  our  pupil 
to  a  satisfactory  gallop. 

A  great  deal  has  been  written  on  the  subject  of  making 
a  horse  lead  off  with  his  right,  or  his  left  foot,  as  we  may 
desire ;  but,  after  a  careful  perusal  of  all  that  is  to  be  found 


256 

treating  on  this  matter,  we  have  found  no  positive  infor- 
mation about  it,  and  believe  that  it  is  not  possible  to  give 
rules  for  producing  this  result  with  certainty,  under  all  cir- 
cumstances; still  there  are  very  many  riders  who  do  it,  al- 
though they  cannot  clearly  tell  another  person  how  it  is  to  be 
done, — just  as  expert  swimmers,  or  skaters,  perform  with 
ease  feats  of  skill  which  they  cannot  teach  to  others,  and 
directions  for  which  cannot  be  written.  There  is  one 
principle  which  is  easily  to  be  understood  from  the  fore- 
going instructions,  which  is,  that  a  horse  will,  if  properly 
handled,  lift  that  foot  first  on  which  there  is  the  least 
weight  resting,  and  that  if  the  preponderance  of  weight  be 
changed  from  one  leg  to  another,  the  greatest  action  or 
"  leading  "  will  be  transferred  to  that  on  which  the  least 
weight  is  bearing.  There  is  a  certain  "knack  "^  of  thus 
transferring  the  weight  from  one  part  of  the  horse's  body 
to  another  which  cannot  be  described,  but  which  may  soon 
be  attained  with  practice. 

The  nearest  approach  to  a  rul-e  for  making  a  horse  lead 
off  with  the  right  or  left  foot,  at  the  pleasure  of  the  rider, 
is  the  following : 

To  make  the  horse  lead  off  with  the  right  foot,  get  him 
well  in  hand,  with  his  head  in  an  easy  position,  and  his 
hind  legs  well  under  his  body  and  then  bear  the  hand  to 
the  left  and  give  an  increased  pressure  to  the  right  leg. 
This  rule  is  not  by  any  means  infallible,  but  it  is  the  best 
to  commence  with,  and  the  3^oung  horse-trainer  will  soon 
learn  to  modify  it,  or,  what  is  more  likely,  Avill  soon  acquire 
a  supreme  contempt  for  all  rules,  and  will  establish  a  com- 
munication with  his  horse  ensuring  his  success. 

In  the  gallop,  the  horse  will  sometimes  change  his  step 
with  the  hind  feet  without  changing  in  front ;  he  is  then 
said  to  be  "  disunited "  in  his  gait.  This  is  a  habit  of 
which  he  may  easily  be  broken  by  being  always  made  to 


THE  SPUE.  257 

Stop  and  begin  again  regularly.  The  rule  for  correcting 
sncli  a  false  step,  without  stopping  the  horse  is,  when  he 
is  leading  with  the  right  foot,  to  hold  the  rein  firmly,  and 
to  press  the  left  leg  against  his  flank  in  such  a  way  as  to 
fix  the  left  hind  foot  on  the  ground,  and  allow  the  other 
to  regain  its  place  in  advance.  If  the  horse  be  leading 
with  the  left  foot  and  become  "disunited,"  the  right  leg 
must  be  pressed  against  his  flanks,  as  it  is  the  left  hind  leg 
which  has  fallen  behind. 

The  Spurs. — Writers  upon  horsemanship,  and  teachers 
of  the  art  generally,  will  inform  you  that  the  spur  is  only 
to  be  applied  to  the  horse  when  it  is  impracticable  to  urge 
him  onward  with  the  legs,  or  when  you  would  force  him 
to  advance  towards  some  person  or  thing  which  terrifies 
him, — in  short,  only  as  a  punishment.  I  undertake  to  say, 
however,  that  if  properly  used,  it  will  be  found  of  the 
greatest  assistance  in  training  the  most  spirited  animal, 
even  those  which  have  not  been  conquered  by  the  use  of 
the  hardest  bits,  guided  by  the  strongest  hands.  With  the 
aid  of  the  spur  the  veriest  Bucephalus  will  speedily  be 
reduced  to  subjection,  rendered  gentle  and  promptly  obedi- 
ent to  rule,  and  readily  brought  to  a  stand-still  in  the  midst 
of  his  most  frantic  bounds. 

The  spur  will  also  be  found  a  valuable  agent  in  con- 
quering the  animal's  tendency  to  shift  his  centre  of  gravity 
too  much  towards  his  front  or  rear.  In  "horses  of  high 
action,"  the  greatest  amount  of  force  resides  in  the  hind 
quarters,  whence  their  greater  rapidity  of  movement.  Pre- 
cisel}^  the  reverse  of  this  is  the  case  with  those  of  heavy, 
sluggish  mood. 

Having,  through  the  instrumentality  of  suppling,  broken 
up  the  natural  forces  of  the  horse,  we  sh'^uld  now  proceed, 
by  a  judiciously  blended  use  of  the  legs  and  hands,  to  con- 
centrate them  in  tlie  middle  of  the    animal's  body,  the 


258  baucher's  method. 

proper  location  of  his  centre  of  gravity.  The  spur  should 
be  applied  adroitly  and  with  caution,  the  legs  being  as  little 
moved  as  possible,  and  brought  together  so  gently  as  to 
pause  within  a  quarter  of  an  inch  of  the  horse's  flanks,  be- 
fore they  actually  touch  them.  The  hand  should  be  per- 
fectly in  unison,  the  reins  being  held  with  a  strong  grasp, 
so  as  to  completely  control  the  increased  violence  of  move- 
ment caused  by  the  spur.  If  the  hand  do  not  check  this 
at  the  very  moment  it  is  given,  and  a  struggle  for  the  mas- 
tery ensues,  we  should  restore  the  horse  to  complete  tran- 
quility before  attempting  to  resume  our  instructions.  By 
pursuing  this  course,  he  may  gradually  be  brought  to 
endure  the  the  severest  application  of  the  spur,  without 
increasing  his  pressure  upon  the  bit,  accelerating  his  pace 
when  moving,  or  starting  when  standing  still. 

A  horse  being  thus  far  subjected,  three-fourths  of  the 
task  of  breaking  is  accomplished,  his  forces  being  com- 
pletely at  our  command,  and  his  centre  of  gravity  coinci- 
dent with  the  middle  of  his  body,  where  it  properly  belongs, 
•as  all  his  forces  unite  at  that  point.  Every  movement 
being  now  perfectly  controlled  by  the  rider,  his  weight  can 
readily  be  shifted  when  it  becomes  requisite. 

OF   LEAPING  THE   DITCH  AND  BAR. 

The  great  desideratum  is  to  induce  the  horse  to  under- 
take the  leap  with  readiness.  If  the  course  I  have  directed 
to  be  pursued,  for  getting  the  natural  forces  of  the  animal 
under  subjection  to  our  will,  have  been  implicitly  followed, 
its  value  will  be  made  apparent  in  the  ease  with  which  we 
shall  make  him  clear  every  obstacle  before  him.  But 
should  he  make  any  resistance,  do  not  employ  means  to 
urge  him  on,  which  are  likely  to  cause  terror,  such  as  a 
whip  applied  by   another   person,  or   load  shouts.     We 


LEAPING  THE   DITCH   OR  BAK.  259 

must  gain  liis  obedience  by  our  own  physical  exertions,  as 
these  alone  will  give  him  the  ability  to  fulfil  our  directions 
intelligently.  In  order,  therefore,  to  overcome  the  forces 
whicli  cause  his  resistance,  we  must  first  have  brought  him 
perfectly  under  the  control  of  the  legs  and  spur,  the  use  of 
which  will  enable  us  to  act  directly  and  successfully  upon 
them. 

The  bar  being  first  kept  on  the  ground  until  he  crosses 
it  without  opposition,  is  to  be  raised,  inch  by  inch,  to  the 
greatest  elevation  at  which  he  can  clear  it,  without  too  se- 
vere exertion.  An  attempt  to  make  him  do  more  is  un- 
wise, as  being  likely  to  give  rise  to  a  strong  disinclination 
for  such  exercises. 

The  bar,  heretofore  loose,  is  now  to  be  firmly  fastened 
in  its  place,  that  the  horse,  in  leaping,  may  carefully  avoid 
hitting  it,  which  he  might  not  take  pains  to  do,  did  he 
know  that  a  touch  of  his  feet  would  remove  it.  Nor  should 
the  bar  be  so  enveloped  with  covering  as  to  diminish  its 
hardness,  as  it  is  essential  that  he  should  be  taught  by 
experience  the  disagreeable  results  of  an  unsuccessful  leap. 

Before  attempting  the  leap,  the  rider  should  be  suffi- 
ciently firm  in  his  seat  to  prevent  his  body's  anticipating 
the  movement  of  his  steed.  His  loins  should  be  supple, 
and  his  posteriors  well  adjusted  to  the  saddle,  so  as  to 
avoid  encountering  a  severe  shock  on  alighting.  His 
thighs  and  legs  must  perfectly  fit  the  sides  and  body  of  the 
horse,  thus  giving  him  ready  and  complete  control.  The 
hand,  in  its  natural  position,  will  calculate,  by  feeling  the 
mouth  of  the  horse,  the  amount  of  force  with  which  he  is 
approaching  the  bar.  In  this  position  he  will  bring  the 
horse  to  the  leap,  and  if  he  maintains  his  freedom  of  pace 
to  the  last  moment,  a  slight  resistance  with  the  leg  and 
hand  will  aid  in  the  elevation  of  the  fore,  and  the  bound 
of  the  hind  quarters.     As  the  horse  rises  to  the  leap,  the 


260 

grasp  of  the  hand  is  to  be  relaxed  to  be  again  applied  when 
the  fore  legs  touch  the  ground,  lest  they  should  sink  under 
the  weight  of  the  bodj. 

We  should  be  content  with  trying  only  a  few  leaps  at  a 
time,  never  attempting  such  as  are  too  great  for  the  ani- 
mal's powers.  Horses  are  sometimes  so  much  alarmed  in 
this  wnj,  as  to  refuse  thereafter  to  perform  leaps  only  half 
the  height  of  those  to  which  they  have  been  previously 
accustomed. 

The  reader  has  now  been  presented  with  a  detailed  ac- 
count of  the  best  manner  of  training  horses  for  the  saddle, 
and  they  will  be  found  satisfactory  in  proportion  as  he 
applies  them  with  spirit,  adopting,  of  course,  such  altera- 
tions as  will  be  suggested  by  circumstances.  Of  the  prelim- 
inary exercises,  not  one  is  unnecessary  or  unprofitable. 
He  who  would  have  a  thoroughly  good  saddle-horse  should 
be  contented  to  follow  M.  Baucher's  directions,  until  he  is 
able  to  prove  that  they  are  erroneous. 

It  is  recommended  that  each  lesson  be  of  a  half  hour's 
duration,  that  the  horse  have  two  lessons  per  day,  and 
that  the  training  be  continued  for  sixty  days. 


f^C/HMJA/CS  S 


h'ig.  '24. 


CHAPTER   XVn. 

HOW   TO    EIDE   A   HORSE. 

THE  SADDLE  — THE  GIRTHS  — THE  STIRRUPS— SADDLE-CLOTHS— THE  CRUPPER — 
THE  MARTINGALE— THE  BRIDLE — SPURS — MOUNTING  AND  DISMOUNTING — 
THE  SEAT — THE  HANDS — THE  LEGS — THE  PACES— HINTS  FOR  SPECIAL  CASES 
— THE  ART  or  FALLING RIDLN'G  WITH  LADIES. 

It  would  be  useless,  in  this  work,  to  enter  into  an  argu- 
ment in  favor  of  horse-back  riding.  It  is  so  inspiriting, 
so  healthful,  so  enchanting, — such  a  truly  noble  exercise  for 
both  men  and  women, — that  it  pleads  its  own  cause,  and 
it  cannot  fail  to  commend  itself  to  all  who  will  master  its 
difficulties  sufficiently  to  fairly  test  its  merits. 

Driving  is  very  well  for  invalids,  and  for  those  who  are 
indolent,  or  timid,  while  it  is  often  convenient  for  all ;  but 
a  free  gallop  on  a  prancing  piaffer,  or  a  well-bred  and  Avell- 
trained  horse,  appeals  so  strongly  to  the  life  and  spirit  of 
all  vigorous  persons,  while  it  brings  relief  for  dyspepsia 
and  hypochondria,  and  immunity  from  nearly  every  ill 
that  flesh  is  heir  to,  that  it  must  effect,  more  and  more,  its 
own  adoption. 

This  being  the  case,  it  is  deemed  necessary  to  the  pur- 
poses of  this  chapter  only  to  give  a  detailed  statement  ot 
the  various  practical  matters  connected  with  the  art  of  Rid- 
ing,— safely  assuming  that  the  reader  will  find,  in  the  prac- 
tical application  of  its  principles,  sufficient  inducement  for 
its  continued  exercise. 

The  Saddle. — Of  the  various  sorts  of  saddles,  there  are 
only  two  which  are  sufficiently  desirable  for  modern  use 
to  require  notice  in  this  work.  These  are  the  English 
hunting  saddle  and  the  Somerset  saddle. 

[261] 


262  HOW  TO   RIDE   A  HORSE. 

The  Hunting  Saddle  is  the  one  which  is  now  almost 
universally  nsed  for  gentlemen's  riding.  It  is  smooth,  hard, 
and  close  fitting,  being  usually  covered  with  the  best  tanned 
hog-skin.  This  saddle,  as  used  for  hunting,  is  from  sixteen 
to  twenty  inches  long,  according  to  the  size  of  the  rider, 
from  pommel  to  cantle,  slightly  depressed  in  the  centre, 
and  having  its  flaps  inclined  forward,  their  anterior  edge 
being  furnished  with  a  padding,  which,  by  preventing  the 
leg  from  slipping  forward,  gives  security  in  the  descent 
from  a  leap,  or  when  the  horse  kicks  badly. 

For  road  riding  the  saddle  may,  without  disadvantage, 
be  half  an  inch  shorter  than  would  be  necessary  for  h  ant- 
ing ;  and,  as  it  is  ssldom  necessary  for  the  pleasure  rider  to 
assume  so  bracing  a  position  as  is,  at  times,  required  in 
the  hunting-field,  the  flaps  may  be  somewhat  more  per- 
pendicular. Beneath,  the  saddle  should  be  well  cham- 
bered,— that  is,  it  should  be  wide  over  the  withers,  and  free 
from  stufi&ng  at  this  point,  and  there  should  be  a  space  of 
at  least  two  inches  betrween  the  pads  of  either  side  to  leave 
a  free  space  over  the  horse's  spine,  from  one  end  of  the 
saddle  to  the  other.  The  pads  should  be  only  sufficiently 
stuffed  to  protect  the  horse's  back  from  injury,  as  too 
much  stuffing,  by  increasing  the  distance  between  the  rider 
and  his  horse,  .gives  an  insecurity  to  his  position.  On 
either  side  of  the  saddle,  just  in  front  of  the  stirrup  bars, 
there  should  be  a  ring  about  three-fourths  of  an  inch  in 
diameter,  to  which  to  attach  the  breast-plate,  if  it  should 
at  any  time  be  necessary  to  use  one. 

The  beauty  and  durability  of  the  saddle  depend  upon 
the  quality  of  the  leather  of  which  it  is  made.  The  best 
quality  is  hard  and  firm,  and  the  bristle-holes  are  large 
and  clearl}^  defined.  Hog-skin  varies  in  quality  so  greatly 
that  its  price  ranges  from  ten  to  one  hundred  dollars  per 
dozen. 


THE   SADDLE.  263 

The  cost  of  such  a  saddle  ns  is  above  described,  when 
made  in  the  best  manner,  is  from  thirty  to  forty-five  dol- 
lars ;  good  looking  saddles  may  be  bought  for  a  very 
much  less  price,  but  the  best  ones  are  the  cheapest,  when 
we  consider  their  durability,  and  the  comfort  Avhich  they 
ensure  to  the  horse  and  rider. 

The  Somerset  Saddle  is  so  called,  because  it  was  in- 
vented for  one  of  the  Somerset  family  who  had  lost  a  leg 
below  the  knee.  "  It  is  padded  before  the  knee  and  be- 
hind the  thigh,  to  fit  the  seat  of  the  purchaser,  and  if  pro- 
vided with  a  stuffed  seat  of  brown  buck-skin,  will  give  the 
quartogenarian  pupil  the  comfort  and  confidence  of  an  arm 
chair.  They  are,  it  may  be  encouraging  to  mention,  fash- 
ionable among  the  more  aristocratic  middle  aged.  The 
front  roll  of  stuffing  is  much  used  among  those  who  ride 
and  break  their  own  colts,  as  it  affords  a  fulcrum  against  a 
puller,  and  a  protection  against  a  kicker.  Australians  us3 
a  rolled  blanket,  strapped  over  the  pommel  of  the  saddle, 
for  the  same  purpose.  To  bad  horsemen  who  are  too  con- 
ceited to  use  a  Somerset,  I  say,  in  the  words  of  the  old 
proverb,  ''  Pride  must  have  a  fall."* 

The  Girths,  of  which  there  should  always  be  two, 
should  be  of  the  best  quality  of  webbing,  of  good  width, 
and  they  should  be  supplied  with  very  strong,  long- 
tongued  buckles. 

The  Stirrup-leathers  should  be  attached  by  bars 
closed  at  the  rear  by  a  clasp,  (see  fig.  25)  acting  with  a  spring 
in  the  manner  of  an  ordinary  knife  blade.  This  renders 
the  foot-hold  always  secure,  so  long  as  it  is  desirable  that  it 
should  be  so ;  and,  if  the  rider  fall  with  his  foot  fastened  in 
the  stirrup,  the  clip  yields  and  allows  the  strap  to  draw  out 
towards  the  rear.  The  best  stirrap  straps  are  usually  made 
with  the  rough  side  of  the  leather  outward,  as  being  more 

"  The  Art  of  Taming  Horses." 


264 


HOW   TO   RIDE   A   HORSE. 


durable.  They  should  be  just  long  enough  when  let  out 
to  their  full  extent,  to  allow  the  ball  of  the  foot  to  touch 
the  stirrup  when  the  leg  is  stretched  down  to  its  fullest 


Fig.  25. 

o  a.  The  bars  of  the  clasp.  b.       Is  inserted  like  a  knife-blade  on  a  spring, 

c.       The  same  partly  open.  d  d.    The  parts  by  which  the  clasp  is  fastened 

to  the  saddle,  and  are  covered  by  the  leather.    ^ 

extent.  It  is  sometimes  desirable  to  ride  with  the  stirrups 
thus  long,  and  any  excess  of  leather  beyond  what  is  re- 
quired for  this^  will  be  inconvenient  when  riding  mth  a 
shorter  stirrup. 

The  Stirrup-irons  should  be  large  enough  to  allow 
the  ball  of  the  foot  to  pass  easily  through  them,  and  not 
less  than  li  inches  wide  at  the  bottom.  A  very  liglit 
stirrup  is  objectionable,  as  it  is  more  easily  lost  by  the  foot 
and  less  easily  recovered,  than  one  of  medium  weight. 

Saddle-cloths. — These  are  of  two  sorts.  The  first  is 
that  which  is  attached  to  the  rear  of  the  saddle,  and  the 
office  of  which  is  to  protect  the  rider's  coat  from  being 
?  )iled  by  the  perspiration  of  the  horse.  They  are  voted 
"  slow"  bv  modern  riders. 


BREAST-PLATE — MAETIXGALE.  265 

The  second  form  is  a  heavy  felt  cloth,  or  a  folded  blanket, 
which  is  put  on  the  horse's  back  under  the  saddle,  and 
which  greatly  protects  the  horse  from  inj  ary  by  its  friction. 
It  is  of  further  use  in  absorbing  the  perspiration  of  the 
horse,  thus  preventing  the  pads  of  the  saddle  from  becom- 
ing hard. 

The  Crupper  is  too  familiar  to  need  description.  It  is 
of  use  only  on  such  horses  as  are,  from  their  straight  shoul- 
ders and  low  withers,  unfit  for  the  saddle.  All  well-bred 
saddle-horses  are  so  high  in  the  withers  that  there  is  no 
danger  of  the  saddle  slipping  forward. 

The  Breast-plate  or  Hunting  Martingale  is  of  use 
only  on  such  very  highly  bred  horses  as,  from  their  high 
withers  and  small,  round  barrels,  may  "  run  out  of  their 
saddles"  in  ascending  steep  hills.  It  consists  of  a  strap 
which  passes  about  the  neck,  and  is  attached  to  the  girths 
beneath,  having  on  either  side, -at  a  distance  of  about  nine 
inches  below  the  top  of  the  withers,  a  ring,  from  which 
pass  short  straps  to  the  breast- plate  rings  of  the  saddle. 

Martingales  are  of  three  sorts : — the  running  martin- 
gale, which  has  two  rings  through  which  the  reins  are  pass- 
ed ;  the  standing  martingale,  which  is  buckled  to  both 
rings  of  the  bit ;  and  the  cavesson  martingale,  which  is 
buckled  to  the  nose -band  of  the  bridle.  The  object  of  the 
standing  martingale  and  of  the  cavesson  martingale,  is  to 
keep  the  horse's  head  always  in  position,  and  they  are  but 
poor  substitutes  for  a  proper  rein-hold.  Except  for  unskil- 
ful riders  on  fretful  horses,  their  use  is  to  be  deprecated  as 
unnaturally  constraining  the  movements  of  the  horse. 

The  running  martingale  is  scarcely  ever  more  desirable, 
though  with  horses  which  have  a  habit  of  rearing,  or  of 
throwing  up  their  heads,  it  may  be  used  as  a  last  resort. 
But  in  all  cases  the  straps  should  be  sufficiently  long  to  al- 
low the  rings  to  go  quite  up  to  the  buckles  when  the  horse's 
12  ^ 


266  HOW   TO   RIDE   A  HORSE. 

head  is  in  a  perpendicular  position,  and  the  reins  should 
be  supplied  with  buttons  to  prevent  these  rings  from  being 
caught  on  the  bnckles  of  the  reins. 

The  Bridle  should  be  of  white  or  russet  leather,  of 
good  quality,  and  it  will  be  more  satisfactory  if  its  buckles 
are  of  polished  steel  and  detachable  (that  they  may  be 
easily  cleaned),  rather  than  covered  with  leather,  and  sew- 
ed fast  to  the  bridle.  Covered  buckles  are  usually  so 
weak  as  to  easily  get  out  of  order.  The  bridle  should  be, 
for  elegance,  as  plain  as  possible,  and  it  may  have  either 
single  or  double  head-straps,  according  to  the  sort  of  bit 
which  has  to  be  used.  Some  persons  use  a  nose-band, 
buckled  sufficiently  short  to  prevent  the  horse  from  open- 
ing his  mouth  to  its  full  extent,  but  it  is  possible  so  to  train 
a  horse  as  to  render  this  unnecessary. 

The  Bit. — As  to  the  form  of  the  bit,  it  is  the  opinion  of 
many  that  there  should  not  only  be  a  different  bit  for  each 
sort  of  "mouth,"  but  that  there  should  be  various  bits  to 
suit  the  varying  temper  of  the  same  horse.  Baucher,  who 
is  high  authority,  insists,  on  the  contrary,  that  one  sort  of 
bit  is  sufficient  for  all  horses,  and  for  all  occasions.  He 
recommends  a  particular  form  of  the  hit  and  hridoon  bridle. 
(See  Baucher's  chapter.)  The  snaffle  should  be  small,  and 
not  long.  The  curb-bit  he  describes  thus:  "Branches 
straight,  six  inches  long  from  the  eye  of  the  bit  to  the  ex- 
tremity of  the  branch ;  the  canon,  or  that  part  of  the  bit 
which  acts  against  the  bars  of  the  mouth,  is  three-fourths 
of  an  inch  in  diameter;  the  width  of  the  port  at  the  bottom 
is  two  inches." 

The  "Pelham"  bit,  (see  fig.  26)  a  combination  of  the 
snaffle  and  the  curb,  if  of  sufficiently  large  size,  is  more 
elegant  in  its  appearance,  having  but  a  single  head-piece, 
and  is  very  effective.  The  "Hanovarian"  (see  fig.  27)  is  a 
powerful  variation  of  the  Pelham  bit,  and  in  the  hands  cf 


THE  BIT. 


267 


a  practiced  horseman  has  an  excellent  effect  on  the  horse's 
action.     There  are  few  horses  which  car^  be  satisfactorily 


Fig.  26.— The  Pelham  Bit. 


ridden  with  the  plain  snaffle-bit — such  as  is  represented 
in  figure  28. 


Fia.  27.— The  Hanovarian  Bit. 

a  Ring  pieces  for  the  attachmeot  of  the  head -stall  made  movable  (as  at  V) ,  to  prevent 
interference  with  the  action  of  the  curb-chain. 


268  now  TO  eide  a  hokse. 

The  Pulley  Bkidle  can  be  useful  only  when  it  is  neces- 
sary to  ride  a  pig-headed,  stiff-necked  brute,  whose  peculiar 
fancy  is  for  taking  the  bit  between  his  teeth,  and  running 
like  mad,  without  a  moment's  warning.     For  ordinary 


Fig.  28— The  plain  Snaffle-bit. 

use,  it  acts  as  a  plain  snaffle,  but,  if  the  horse  try  to  run 
away  with  it,  a  stout  pull  on  the  rein  which  passes 
through  the  ends  of  the  bit  and  over  the  top  of  the  head, 
will  effectually  gag  him  and  bring  him  to  terms.  It  is 
much  better  than  the  saw-edged,  jaw-breaking  devices  in 
use  in  some  parts  of  the  world,  and,  for  special  uses,  it  is 
desirable  ;  but  for  a  gentleman's  saddle-horse  it  would  be 
absurd,  inasmuch  as  no  horse  fit  for  saddle  use  would  at- 
tempt any  prank  which  Baucher's  bit,  with  its  6-inch  lev- 
erage, would  not  speedily  check. 

Spurs. — The  best  form  of  spur  is  the  old-fashioned  sort 
known  to  the  trade  as  the  *'  hunting-spur."  This  sets  over 
the  heel,  and  is  fastened  by  a  strap  around  the  instep.  The 
more  fashionable  form  at  the  present  time,  is  the  spur 
which  is  either  screwed  fast  to  the  heel  of  the  boot,  or 
which  is  fastened  to  it  by  a  spring  which  fits  into  a  socket 
made  in  the  heel.     The  points  of  the  spur  should  be  filed 


MOUNTING   AND  DISMOUNTING.  269 

off,  SO  that  tliey  cannot  prick  the  horse  too  severely ;  in 
ordinary  riding  they  are  used  only  as  reminders. 

The  use  of  the  spurs,  as  directed  in  the  chapter  on 
Baucher's  method  of  training,  adds  greatly  to  nearly  every 
effect  of  the  motions  of  the  legs,  and  by  their  skilful  appli- 
cation, it  is  possible  to  make  the  well-trained  horse  seem 
a  portion  of  ourselves. 

The  Dress. — The  riding  dress  for  gentlemen,  in  this 
country,  where  there  are  no  riding  or  hunting  clubs,  and 
where  there  is  no  special  fashion  for  riding  costume,  may 
be  anything  that  is  appropriate  to  the  season,  convenient, 
and  not  easily  injured  by  the  frequently  recurring  mishaps 
incident  to  riding.  Tight  breeches,  with  the  boots  worn 
outside,  are  most  convenient,  and  least  subject  to  accident; 
but  pantaloons,  with  straps,  are  more  elegant,  and  suffi- 
ciently convenient. 

MOUNTING   AND   DISMOUNTING. 

Mounting. — 1.  Walk  up  to  the  horse  in  a  quiet,  confident 
way,  pat  his  face  and  neck,  and  speak  tr)  him  gently ;  then, 
standing  opposite  his  left  shoulder,  fix  the  reins  in  the  left 
hand,  and  with  the  right  hand  separate  a  portion  of  the  mane 
and  wind  it  around  the  thumb  of  the  left  hand.  Then  fac- 
ing the  horse's  rump,  hold  the  stirrup  in  the  right  hand 
and  put  the  left  foot  firmly  into  it ;  now  hop  around  so  as 
to  face  the  saddle,  and  lay  the  hand  on  the  right  side  of  the 
cantle ;  raise  yourself  in  the  stirrup,  and  throw  the  light 
leg  well  over  the  horse's  back,  without  bending  the  knee. 
As  soon  as  you  touch  the  saddle,  loose  the  hold  of  the  mane, 
but  be  careful  that,  in  finding  the  right  stirrup,  your  efforts 
produce  no  reaction  on  the  bit,  which  should  be  held  only 
tight  enough  to  cause  the  horse  to  stand  quietly.     Or, 

2d.  Approach  the  horse  as  before,  step  back  so  as  to 


270  HOW   TO   RIDE   A   HOESE. 

fiice  the  saddle,  take  the  curb-rein  lightly  in  the  right  hand 
and  lay  that  hand  on  the  right  side  of  the  cantle  of  the 
saddle ;  with  the  help  of  the  left  hand  place  the  foot  in 
tlje  stirrup,  and  then,  taking  a  portion  of  the  mane  in  the 
left  hand,  place  yourself  in  the  saddle,  as  before  directed, 
raising  the  right  hand  to  clear  the  right  leg,  and  letting  go 
of  the  mane  and  taking  hold  of  the  curb-rein  with  the  left 
hand  as  the  right  rises  from  its  position  on  the  cantle  to  al- 
low the  leg  to  pass  over.  This  method  of  mounting  is  less 
formal  and  more  graceful  than  that  first  described,  but  it 
requires  a  certain  degree  of  skill  and  good  horsemanship  to 
enable  one  to  perform  it,  without  taking  too  strong  a  hold 
of  the  horse's  mouth. 

These  are  methods  of  the  schools,  and  it  is  conven- 
ient to  be  able  to  employ  them  at  pleasure  ;  but  the  follow- 
ing directions  by  Baucher  will  enable  one  to  mount  more 
easily  and  more  quickly  : 

Approach  the  horse's  shoulder,  take  the  reins  in  the  left 
hand,  and  then  take  in  the  same  hand  a  portion  of  the  • 
mane  firmly,  but  in  such  a  manner  as  not  to  tear  the  hair 
from  its  roots.  Place  the  right  hand  on  the  pommel  of 
the  saddle,  passing  the  four  fingers  inside  the  pommel  and 
laying  the  thumb  on  the  outside  ;  spring  lightly  and  raise 
yourself  upon  your  wrists.  As  soon  as  your  middle  has 
reached  the  height  of  your  hands,  throw  the  right  leg- 
over  the  croup,  without  touching  it,  and  place  yourself 
lightly  in  the  saddle. 

These  directions  all  apply  to  mounting  from  the  left  side 
of  the  horse ;  for  mounting  from  the  right  or  off  side,  they 
should,  of  course,  be  reversed. 

There  is  no  right  or  wrong  side  of  the  horse  from  which 
to  mount,  and  the  rider  should  be  able  to  mount  from 
either  side,  indifferently. 

Dismounting. — In  leaving  the  saddle,  it  is  customary,  as 


THE   SEAT.  271 

it  is  eas}-,  to  dismount  by  simply  reversing  tlie  first  direc- 
tions given  for  mounting, — thus :  having  the  reins  and 
whip  in  the  left  hand,  take  hold  of  the  mane,  withdraw 
the  right  foot  from  the  stirrup,  lay  the  right  hand  on  the 
pommel  of  the  saddle,  and  throw  the  right  leg  backward 
over  the  horse's  rump,  being  careful  not  to  touch  him  with 
the  spur.  As  the  leg  descends  to  the  horse's  side,  move  the 
right  hand  from  the  pommel  of  the  saddle  to  the  cantl®  ; 
lower  the  right  leg  to  the  ground  and  take  the  stirrup  in 
the  right  hand,  so  that  the  foot  may  be  withdrawn  without 
throwing  the  stirrup  against  the  horse's  flank. 

A  less  dignified  but  more  graceful  mode  of  dismount- 
ing is  the  following :  disengage  both  feet  from  the  stirrups, 
place  both  hands  on  the  pommel  of  the  saddle,  lean  slightly 
backward,  and  then  throw  the  bod}?:  forward,  bringing  the 
weight  on  the  wrists ;  continue  the  spring,  so  as  to  bring 
either  leg  over  the  horse,  landing  on  either  side  at  pleas- 
ure, dropping  close  by  his  side  and  keeping  hold  of  the 
reins  over  his  withers. 

The  Seat. — On  this  subject  Nimrod says  :  "It  wcs  Avell 
observed  by  Don  Quixote,  in  one  of  his  lectures  to  Sancho, 
that  the  seat  on  a  horse  makes  some  people  look  like  gen- 
tlemen, and  others  like  grooms ;  but  a  wonderful  improve- 
ment has  taken  place  Avithin  the  last  half  century  in  the 
seat  on  horseback  of  all  descriptions  of  persons,  effected 
chiefly  by  the  simple  aci>  of  giving  the  rider  a  few  more 
inches  of  stirrup-leather.  No  gentleman  now,  and  very 
few  servants,  are  to  be  seen  with  short  stirrups,  and,  con- 
sequently, a  bent  knee,  which,  independently  of  its  un. 
sightliness,  causes  uneasiness  to  the  horse  as  well  as  to  his 
rider, — whose  knees  being  lifted  above  the  skirts  of  the  sad- 
dle deprive  him  of  the  assistance  of  the  clip  hy  his  thighs 
and  legs.  The  short  stirrup-leather,  however,  was  ado[)ted 
with  the  idea  of  its  giving  relief  to  the  horse,  although  a 


272  HOW  TO   RIDE   A   HORSE. 

moment's  consideration  would  have  proved  the  contrary, 
and  for  this  reason  :  the  point  of  union  between  a  man  and 
his  horse,  as  well  as  the  centre  of  action,  lies  just  behind 
the  shoulder  blades,  which,  as  must  be  apparent  to  every 
one,  is  the  strongest  part  of  the  horse's  body,  and  where 
the  sack  of  wheat  or  flour  is  placed  by  the  farmer  or  mil- 
ler. With  short  stirrup-leathers,  the  seat  of  the  rider  is 
thrown  farther  back  on  the  saddle,  instead  of  being  exactly 
in  the  centre  of  it,  and  consequently  his  weight  is  thrown 
upon  the  part  approaching  the  loins, — the  weakest  part  of 
the  body,  and  very  easily  injured.  From  the  same  mis- 
taken notion  was  the  saddle  formerly  placed  nearly  a 
hand's  breadth  from  the  shoulders,  which,  of  course,  added 
to  the  mischief" 

In  military  riding,  the  stirrup-straps  are  nearly  as  long  as 
they  can  be  reached  by  the  ball  of  the  foot.  In  cross-coun- 
try riding,  on  the  contrary,  the  strap  is  considerably  short- 
ened and  the  foot  is  placed  home, — that  is,  the  stirrup  is  car- 
ried in  the  hollow  of  the  foot.  This  gives  greater  security 
to  the  seat,  and  lessens  the  risk  of  loosing  the  stirrup  in 
leaping.  The  seat,  in  pleasure-riding,  should  be  a  compro- 
mise between  these  two.  Various  directions  are  given  for 
the  length  of  the  stirrup,  such  as  that  the  stirrup  should 
hang  opposite  the  ankle  joint  when  the  leg  is  extended 
downward  ;  that  the  leg  should  be  extended,  the  toes  raised 
as  much  as  possible,  and  the  stirrup  adjusted  to  the  position 
of  the  ball  of  the  foot,  when  so  placed '  or,  that  when 
the  ball  of  the  foot  is  in  the  stirrup,  the  rider  cao,  keep- 
ing his  ankle  still  bent,  so  raise  himself  as  to  just  clear 
the  pommel.  Practically,  the  best  direction  is,  for  the 
rider  to  carry  his  feet  in  the  position  that  is  most  comf  )rt- 
able  to  him,  provided  that  it  does  not  greatly  vary  from 
any  of  the  foregoing,  and  that  it  does  not  cause  his  seat,  in 
riding,  to  be  behind  the  middle  of  the  saddle.     The  proper 


■  THE   SEAT.  273 

position  of  tKe  stirrup  and  the  depression  of  the  heel  are 
represented  in  fig.  29.  The  foot  must  always  be  carried 
nearly  'parallel  to  the  horse's  hody^  turning  out  the  toe  hut  very 
little.  The  great  essential  of  any  seat  on  horseback  is,  to 
have  it  perfectly  secure,  natural,  and  unrestrained.  Bau- 
cher  gives  the  following  directions  for  acquiring  a  good  seat. 
He  recommends  for  the  purpose  a  quiet  old  horse : 

The  pupil  being  in  the  saddle,  the  instructor  will  exam- 
ine his  position  in  order  to  detect  those  parts  which  most 
require  suppling.  The  pupil  will  first  expand  his  chest, 
and  retain  himself  some  time  in  that  position.  He  will  next 
move  his  head  to  the  right,  or  to  the  left,  without  a  corre- 
sponding motion  of  the  shoulders.  The.-  chest,  arms,  and 
head  having  become  properly  suppled,  he  will  remove  one 
of  his  legs  as  far  as  possible  away  from  the  saddle,  and  af- 
terward replace  it  in  such  a  manner  as  to  take  a  firm  clip 
with,  his  knees  and  thighs.  The  leg  must  be  entirely  un- 
der the  control  of  the  pupil,  and  must  be  gradually  replaced, 
not  allowed  to  fall  back  of  its  own  weight.  The  thighs 
and  knees  preserving  their  adherence  to  the  saddle;  the 
legs  must  be  swung  like  a  pendulum,  the  heels  being  raised 
to  the  height  of  the  cantle  of  the  saddle.  The  pupil  should 
hold  in  either  or  both  hands,  weights  of  from  ten  to  forty 
pounds,  and  should  continue  this  practice  until  he  can  do 
it  without  affecting  the  security  of  his  seat.  The  instruc- 
tor should  push  the  pupil  from  his  seat  to  one  side  or  to 
the  other,  and.  should  watch  that  he  regains  it  by  the  use 
of  his  hips  and  knees  only.  The  hands,  and  consequently 
the  shoulders  and  whole  upper  portion  of  the  body,  should 
remain  motionless  during  this  movement.  In  all  of  these 
exercises  the  pupil  must  have  in  view  the  necessity  for 
guiding  his  horse  independently  of  the  means  which  keep 
him  in  his  position,  and  never  endeavoring  to  strengthen 
his  position  by  his  hold  of  the  reins.  It  is  a  useful  prac- 
12^ 


274  HOW   TO   RIDE   A   KORSE. 

tice  for  the  pupil  to  get  upon  his  knees,  and  Subsequently 
upon  his  feet  in  the  saddle,  while  holding  weights  in  his 
hands. 

The  Hands. — The  position  of  the  hands,  in  riding,  is  a 
matter  of  the  utmost  importance,  as  on  the  delicacy  and 
firmness  of  the  touch  depends  very  much  the  rider's 
ability  to  make  his  horse  entirely  submissive  to  his  efforts. 
In  cross-country  riding,  and  in  all  cases  where  great  care 
is  necessary,  the  reins  of  each  side  should  be  held  in  the 
hand  of  that  side.  (See  fig.  30.)  This  manner  of  holding 
the  reins  is  always  the  safest,  and,  as  a  gentleman  in  rid- 
ing is  not  obliged  to  use  his  right  hand  for  a  sword,  as  are 
military  men,  there  is  no  reason  why  he  should  not  use  it 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  give  him  the  best  possible  control 
of  his  horse's  mouth. 

With  all  strange  or  unruly  horses,  in  turning  to  the  right 
draw  on  the  right  rein,  and  to  the  left  on  the  left  rein.  If 
you  find  that  your  horse  is  so  delicately  trained  that  he 
can  be  turned  by  the  least  pressure  of  the  rein  against 
either  side  of  his  neck,  it  will  often  be  convenient  to  hold 
the  reins  together  in  the  left  hand.  Baucher,  in  his  Manege 
riding,  holds  the  curb-reins  together  in  his  left  hand,  and 
the  snaffle-reins  together  in  his  right.  An  alternate  tension 
on  the  two  reins  keeps  the  horse  more  sensitive  to  the  bit. 
As  it  is  the  almost  universal  custom  among  good  riders  in 
this  country  to  ride  with  the  reins  in  the  left  hand  only,  and 
as  those  deviating  from  this  custom  would  be  considered 
awkward,  such  persons  as  desire  a  reputation  for  skilful 
riding  should  hold  their  reins  as  is  represented  in  Fig.  81. 
The  right  hand,  in  which  the  whip  is  firmly  held,  may  rest 
on  the  hip,  or  hang  by  the  side.  The  left  hand  should 
be  held  with  the  thumb  upward  and  pointing  .toward  the 
horse's  ears,  and  with  the  little  finger  near  to  the  pommel 
of  the  saddle  and  directlv  above  it.    This  enables  one  to  hold 


THE    HANDS — THE    LEGS.  275 

the  elbow  close  to  the  side.  The  old  custom  of  turning 
the  knuckles  upward,  without  giving  more  power,  throws 
the  elbow  awa}^  from  the  aide,  and  gives  the  rider  an  un- 
graceful appearance.  If  the  horse  has  been  trained  as  de- 
scribed in  the  chapter  on  Baucher's  method,  he  may  be 
best  ridden  with  the  curb-rein  alone ;  the  rein  of  the 
snaffle,  being  slackened  only  a  few  inches,  may  be  easily 
drawn  up  at  pleasure  when  it  is  necessary  to  give  the  horse 
a  more  firm  support. 

"  Lightness  of  hand,"  about  which  much  is  said,  is  really 
B.  firmness;  and,  except  with  delicately  formed  and  perfectly 
trained  horses,  a  light  hold  of  the  bit  is  not  only  danger- 
ous, but  is  injurious  to  the  perfect  action  of  the  horse.  On 
the  road  the  rider  should  always  maintain  his  horse's  head 
in  a  perpendicular  position ;  this  requires  the  rein  to  be 
drawn  to  a  certain  point,  at  which  it  should  be  constantly 
kept,  unless  it  be  necessary  to  slacken  the  pace.  The 
horse  will  soon  learn  that  it  is  only  Avithin  this  limit  that 
he  can  be  free  from  the  pain  caused  by  the  pressure  of  the 
bit,  and,  by  keeping  his  mouth  just  within  it,  he  will  ren- 
der the  hold  a  light  one ;  but,  should  he  attempt  to  pass 
beyond  it,  he  should  find  his  rider's  hand  as  firm  and  un- 
yielding- as  iron.  When  in  this  position  the  horse  is  ex- 
tremely sensitive  to  the  least  movement  of  the  rider's  hand, 
and  by  an  awkward  motion  he  may  be  thrown  upon  his 
haunches,  or  at  least  interrupted  and  confused  in  his  gait. 

The  Legs. — The  legs  are  no  less  important  in  guiding 
and  assisting  the  horse  in  his  movements  than  are  the 
hands,  for  his  chauges  of  direction,  and  indeed  his  every 
action  is  no  more  dependent  on  his  fore  parts,  which  are 
controlled  by  the  hands,  than  on  the  hind  parts  which  are 
controlled  entirely  by  the  legs.  A  uniform  j)ressure  of 
both  legs  tends  to  bring  the  horse's  hind  feet  forward,  or 
to  give  a  forward  motion  to  his  body.     The  pressure  of 


276  HOW   TO   RIDE   A  HORSE. 

one  leg,  placed  behind  the  girths,  tends  to  turn  the  croup 
around  the  fore  legs  from  that  side.  An  equal  pressure  of 
both  legs  differently  placed,  and  delicately  aided  by  the 
hand,  tends  to  turn  the  horse  around  his  centre  of  gravity, 
and,  by  a  combination  of  these  aids,  which  require  as  much 
practice  in  the  management  of  the  legs  as  in  that  of  the 
hands,  the  horse,  in  his  movements,  ma}^  be  made  entirely 
submissive  to  the  will  of  his  rider.  The  legs  have  still  an- 
other ofS.ce,  in  enabling  the  rider  to  displace  his  weight  so 
as  to  throw  more  weight  on  one  side  of  the  horse  than  on 
the  other,  and  to  cause  him  to  raise  the  legs  of  the  side 
from  which  the  weight  has  been  removed.  The  rider 
should  carefully  avoid  distressing  his  horse  by  an  unnec- 
essary pressure  of  his  thighs. 

THE    PACES. 

The  Walk  is  so  simple  a  gait  that  it  is  only  necessary  to 
say  of  it  that,  except  when  adopted  as  a  resting  or  breath- 
ing time  for  a  Aveary  horse,  it  should  be  performed  with 
animation,  the  head  being  kept  in  position,  and  the  action 
made  lively  and  firm  ;  this  should  especially  be  the  case 
when  the  object  is  to  perform  a  slow*  journey,  or  simply  to 
exercise  the  horse.  After  fast  travelling  on  the  road,  it  is 
at  times  desirable  to  allow  the  head  to  drop,  and  the  whole 
muscular  system  to  become  relaxed ;  but  this  should  be 
only  for  a  sufl&cient  distance  to  enable  the  horse  to  recover 
from  temporary  exhaustion,  and  it  should  never  be  allowed 
on  rough  ground  with  any  horse,  nor  even  on  the  smooth- 
est ground  with  such  as  are  inclined  to  trip.  The  rider 
may  suffer  his  own  body  to  drop  into  an  easy  position,  but 
he  must  be  ready  instantly  to  regain  his  firmness  in  case 
of  a  false  step. 

The  Trot  is  the  fashionable  gait  in  this  country,  though 


THE    PACES.  277 

it  is  less  easy  to  the  ricler  and  to  the  liorse  tlian  a  well- 
gathered  canter ;  and  it  is  for  both  of  tliem  an  artificial 
gait,  and  both  will  need  much  practice  before  they  will  be 
able  to  |)erform  it  gracefull}'.  On  the  part  of  the  horse, 
there  is  too  frequently  a  tendency  to  bear  heavily  on  the 
bit,  and  to  trot  with  a  low,  reaching  step.  This  always 
canses  a  contraction  of  the  neck  and  jaw,  and  usually  an 
irregular  motion  of  the  hind  parts,  which  is  far  from  being 
either  easy  or  elegant.  No  matter  how  fast  the  trot  may 
be,  the  animal  should  always  preserve  his  lightness  and 
freedom  of  action,  maintaining  a  perfect  suppleness  and  a 
uniformity  in  his  step. 

Military  men,  and  the  riders  of  the  French  school,  prac- 
tice what  the  English  very  properly  term  riding  'hard,'  or 
sitting  close  to  the  saddle,  while  the  English  and  very 
many  American  riders  rise  in  the  stirrup  at  each  step  of 
the. horse.  The  latter  is  certainly  the  most  easy  for  both 
horse  and  rider.  This  opinion  is  sustained  by  Nimrod, 
who  writes  as  follows:  "It  is  indeed  to  the  disuse  of  this 
practice  in  France,  and  other  parts  of  the  continent,  where 
rising  in  the  stirrups  is  never  resorted  to,  even  on  the 
hardest  trotting  horses,  that  is  to  be  attributed  the  rare 
occurrence  of  persons  riding  any  distance,  at  a  quick  rate, 
for  pleasure.  To  this  peculiar  system  in  our  horseman- 
ship are  we  indebted,  also,  for  our  rapid  style  of  posting, 
as  without  it  post-boys  could  not  endure  the  fatigue  the 
action  of  a  horse  creates,  especially  in  hot  weather,  over  a 
fifteen  miles  stage,  at  the  rate  of  ten  or  tw^elve  miles  an 
hour,  without  a  moment's  intermission  ;  whereas,  by  means 
of  it,  he  performs  the  task  with  comparative  ease  and  com- 
fort. The  objection  to  it  on  the  part  of  foreigners  lies  in 
the  fancied  inelegance  of  the  motion,  which  we  consider 
not  worthy  of  an  argument ;  but  of  this  we  are  certain,  that 
what  is  called  'riding  hard,'  tliat  is,  not  rising  in  the  stir- 


278  HOW   TO   RIDE   A   HOESE. 

nips  in  tlie  trot,  nor  leaning  any  weight  on  them  in  the 
gallop  or  canter,  must  be  extremelj^  distressing  to  the 
horse." 

If  the  novice  attempts  riding  hard,  he  should  avoid 
leaning  back  too  much,  as  this,  bj  throwing  the  weight 
near  to  the  horses  coupling,  must  always  be  distressing 
to  him.  The  proper  position  is  to  incline  a  very  little 
backward,  enough  to  bring  the  shoulders  over  the  cantel 
of  the  saddle,  or  nearly  so. 

In  rising  in  the  stirrups  one  should  lean  a  little  forward, 
and  the  motion  should  be  only  enough  to  break  the  shock 
of  the  horse's  step.  The  feet  should  be  carefully  kept  in 
a  line  with  the  horse's  sides,  as  close  as  j^ossible  to  his 
body,  and  the  swajnng  motion  which  they  are  likely  to 
take  should  be  avoided.  One  should  be  able  to  ride  in 
this  manner  without  the  least  support  from  the  reins.  In 
slow  trotting,  as  indeed  in  all  slow  riding,  the  reins  may 
be  held  together  in  the  left  hand,  if  the  rider  be  acquaint- 
ed with  his  horse,  and  is  sure  that  he  is  not  inclined  to  trip. 

The  Gallop  and  Canter. — While  the  gallop  and  can- 
ter are  entirely  different  paces,  the  former  being  a  succes- 
vsion  of  short  leaps,  and  the  latter  a  movement  of  the  front 
and  hind  legs  successively,  the  ti"ansition  from  one  to  the 
other  is  so  gradual  that  it  would  be  difficult  to  exactly  fix 
it,  and  the  style  of  riding  in  both  paces  is  very  much  the 
same. 

The  horse  being  light  in  hand,  and  the  rider  being  eas}-, 
yet  secure,  in  his  seat,  it  will  only  be  necessary  to  observe 
a  few  important  directions,  such  as  the-  following : 

The  hand  or  hands,  having  a  proper  hold  of  the  reins, 
should  be  so  held  that  the  body  is  not  twisted  out  of  its 
proper  position  ;  that  is,  supposing  the  reins  be  held  togeth- 
er in  the  left  hand,  the  left  shoulder  should  not  be  thrown 
forward,  but  both  shoulders  should  be  placed  as  nearly  as 


THE   PACE,  OR   AMBLE.  279 

possible  at  right  angles  with  tlie  line  of  travel.  If  the 
horse  leads  with  the  left  foot,  his  body  will  be  inclined  a 
little  to  the  right,  or  if  he  lead  with  the  right  foot  it  will 
be  inclined  a  little  to  the  left.  In  either  case,  the  rider 
should  face  the  direction  in  which  he  is  going,  rather  than 
the  direction  of  the  horse's  body. 

As  there  is  more  motion  on  that  side  of  the  horse  which 
is  leading,  the  rider's  foot  of  that  side  will  be  more  inclined 
than  the  other  to  sway  with  the  horse's  step ;  this  should, 
as  far  as  possible,  be  avoided,  as  inelegant  and  insecure. 
The  body  of  the  rider  should  be  perpendicular, — or,  in  the 
language  of  Baucher,  every  part  of  the  body  should  rest  on 
the  part  next  below  it,  and  the  weight  should  be  thrown 
somewhat  into  the  stirrups,  as  being  less  fatiguing  to  the 
horse  than  when  borne  entirely  by  the  seat. 

The  thighs  should  in  all  cases  grasp  the  horse,  but  not 
with  so  much  power  as  to  render  him  uncomfortable, — a 
frequent  error  with  strong  men. 

In  the  gallop  the  motion  of  the  horse  is  very  much  in- 
creased, and  there  is  proportionately  greater  necessity  for 
the  observance  of  the  foregoing  suggestions. 

For  further  information  concerning  the  different  paces, 
the  reader  is  referred  to  the  chapter  on  Baucher's  system 
of  training  horses  for  the  saddle. 

The  Pace,  or  Amble,  is  a  gait  which  is  not  recognized 
in  the  art  of  Equitation,  and  which  demands  no  special 
attention  here,  inasmuch  as  particular  instructions  with  re- 
gard to  it  are  not  required  after  what  has  been  said  on  the 
general  subjects  of  the  ''  Seat,"  "Hands,"  etc. 

While  pacing  horses  are  in  active  demand  for  the  sad- 
dles of  middle-aged  beginners,  and  although  the  gait  has 
the  sole  and  questionable  advantage  of  being  "  as  easv  as 
a  rocking-chair,"  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  say  that  the  sidling 
movement  and  boring  month  of  this  class  of  horses,  and 


280  HOW    TO    niDE   A   HORSE. 

tlie  necessarily  sioagging  seat  of  their  riders,  exclude  the 
gait  from  the  manege. 

To  an  accomplished  horseman,  pacing  is  either  painfully 
swinging  or  painfully  dull.  So  long  as  his  horse  moves 
forward  in  a  direct  line  he  can  preserve  a  safe,  elegant,  and 
comfortable  seat,  no  matter  how  high  the  action;  but 
when  to  the  forward  movement  there  is  added  a  swaying 
from  side  to  side,  such  a  seat  is  impossible ;  and,  indeed, 
all  works  on  horsemanship,  only  teach  the  means  for  cor- 
recting this  gait  as  a  vice.  Still,  as  many  of  the  readers 
of  this  work  may  have  reason,  on  account  of  timidity  or 
physical  weakness,  to  prefer  pacing  horses,  their  attention 
is  called  to  the  superior  advantages  of  that  particular 
variety  of  the  gait  called  "  Backing." 

A  true  pacer  moves  the  two  feet  of  each  side  at  the 
same  time,  and  his  action  is  neither  so  safe  nor  so  pleasant 
as  that  of  the  racker^  whose  feet  are  set  down  one  after  the 
other  in  regular  one  two  three  four  time.    • 

Turning. — In  turning  the  horse,  in  any  pace,  the  rider 
should  recollect  that  he  is  not  simply  to  pull  him  round 
by  the  head,  as  this  will  invariably  induce  a  contraction  of 
the  neck  or  of  the  whole  body.  The  legs  should  be  held 
sufficiently  close  to  the  sides  to  keep  the  horse's  hind  legs 
well  under  him,  and  the  leg  on  the  side  toward  which  it  is 
desired  to  turn  should  be  carried  back  of  the  girths  at  the 
same  time  that  the  head  is  drawni  toward  the  sides ;  this 
Avill  cause  the  horse  to  turn  gracefully,  and  to  retain  his 
lightness. 

The  Halt. — There  is  one  principle  Vvhich  must  be  borne 
in  mind,  in  making  a  sudden  halt  from  a  rapid  pace ;  that 
is,  that  if  the  hind  legs  are  under  the  body,  when  the  horse 
stops,  they  receive  their  share  of  the  shock,  whereas,  it 
they  are  not  so  placed,  the  whole  shock  comes  on  the  fore- 
legs, and  a  sudden  halt  becomes  dangerous,  or  disagree- 


HINTS  FOR  SPECIAL  CASES.  281 

able.  In  halting  from  tlie  gallop,  touch  the  horse  gently, 
but  steadily,  with  the  spurs  when  the  hind  legs  are  for- 
ward, and  immediately  follow  this  movement  by  a  tension 
of  the  hand.  If  the  rein  is  drawn  before  the  spurs  are  used 
the  hind  legs  cannot  be  controlled,  and  the  horse  stops  only 
after  a  series  of  bounds,  which  are  as  uncomfortable  to  the 
rider  as  they  are  ungraceful.  The  instant  halt,  from  an 
ordinary  gallop,  may,  Avith  a  well-trained  horse,  be  effected 
without  difficulty. 

Skilful  riding  is,  if  the  expression  may  be  allowed,  an 
acquired  instinct^  and  written  instructions  can  give  but  an 
imperfect  idea  of  the  manner  in  which  an  accomplished 
rider  is  enabled  to  make  his  horse  entirely  subservient  to 
his  will,  holding  him,  between  his  hands  and  his  legs,  ready 
to  obey  his  least  suggestion,  and  powerless  to  oppose  his 
wishes ;  yet  this  is  not  a  difficult  acquirement  for  any  per- 
son who  will  devote  himself  with  zeal  to  his  own  and  his 
horse's  education. 


HINTS  FOR  SPECIAL   CASES. 

In  riding  over  hard  ground,  the  horse  should  be  kept 
to  a  trot,  or  a  very  gentle  canter,  as  the  concussion  of  the 
gallop  is  very  severe  on  the  hoofs  and  legs ;  strains,  in- 
flammation in  the  feet,  break  down,  and,  worse  than  all, 
quarter-crack,  are  frequent  penalties  of  a  disregard  of  this 
suggestion.  The  friction  of  hard  roads  on  the  shoes  often 
renders  them  so  hot  as  to  injure  the  hoof. 

When  a  piece  of  turf  or  soft  road  offers,  the  pace  may 
be  with  safety  extended  to  a  sharp  gallop  without  much 
danger  of  accident. 

In  riding  over  miry  ground,  the  horse  should  be  taken 
firmly  between  the  legs,  and  the  body  should  be  inclined 
slightly  backward,  to  prevent  a  fall  forw^ard  in  case  of  his 


282  HOW   TO   RIDE   A   HORSE. 

stepping  on  a  very  soft  spot.     As  tlie  liind  feet  are  placed 

very  nearly  in  the  tracks  of  tlie  fore  feet,  and  as  they  are 

put  down  less  perpendicularlyj  there  is  comparatively  but 

little  liability  of  the  horse's  falling  on  his  haunches,  and  if 

he  should  do  so,  the  fall   would  not  be  very  dangerous  to 

the  rider. 

The  management  of  sliyincj  horses  is  considered  in  the 

chapter  on  Karey's  Method  of  Horse-taming. 

If  the  horse  be  a  kicker,  recollect  that  he  cannot  kick  to 
do  any  harm  so  long  as  his  head  is  kept  in  the  proper  po- 
sition, and  that  he  may  be  prevented  from  striking  out  by 
the  use  of  the  curb,  which  will  canse  him  to  throw  np  his 
head,  in  which  position  excessive  kicking  is  impossible. 

Some  horses  rear  badly ;  they  may  generally  be  pre- 
vented from  doing  so  by  being  touched  in  either  flank 
with  the  spur,  just  as  they  commence  to  rise.  It  may  also 
be  prevented,  in  some  cases,  by  the  rider's  leaning  well 
back  in  the  saddle,  and  then  throwing  his  weight  suddenly 
forward,  as  soon  as  the  fore  feet  leave  the  ground.  This 
creates  an  opposition  which  the  horse  had  not  calculated 
on  when  he  took  his  spring,  and  brings  him  to  his  feet, 
or  at  least  will  prevent  the  horse  from  falling  over  back- 
ward. 

Leaping  or  Fencing. — In  the  chapter  on  Baucher's 
method,  there  are  given  directions  for  teaching  the  horse 
to  leap.  The  rider  will  best  take  Ms  first  lessons  in  cau- 
tious and  unobserved  practice.  Yery  small  ditches,  and 
after  them,  very  low  fences  should  be  "carried,"  with  a 
well-ti'ained,  or  very  active  horse.  The  first  landing  from 
ever  so  small  a  leap,  if  it  be  really  a  leap,  and  not  a 
scramble,  is  usually  made  with  the  rider  on  the  horse's 
neck,  or,  at  least,  very  far  forward  on  the  saddle ;  but  the 
knach  of  the  thing  is  soon  acquired,  and  with  the  aid  of 
coolness  and  courage,  the  novice  will,   after  a  few  slight 


LEAPING   OR   FENCING.  283 

mishaps,  find  it  eas}^  to  keep  Avell  down  in  his  seat,  and  to 
land  in  such  a  manner  as  to  jeopardize  neither  his  own 
neck,  nor  his  horse's  fore  legs. 

Instead  of  the  usual  lengthy  directions  for  leaping,  we 
insert  only  the  following  suggestions,  believing  that  the 
art  is  to  be  acquired  only  by  practice,  and  that  the  expe- 
rience of  each  individual,  bought  at  the  cost  of  a  few 
mishaps,  will  be  of  more  value  than  a  volume  of  detailed 
instructions. 

In  going  at  a  leap  hold  the  reins  in  both  hands,  keep- 
ing them  rather  low,  and  steadying  the  horse  by  a  uniform 
but  not  too  tight  hold  of  his  mouth,  reducing  the  speed  to 
enable  the  horse  to  gather  his  hind  legs  well  under  him 
to  take  the  spring. 

As  soon  as  he  rises,  give  him  the  reins,  and  be  ready  to 
hold  him  at  the  moment  of  landing, — but  be  careful  not  to 
interfere  with  him  until  he  has  fairly  touched  the  ground ; 
a  nervous  grasping  of  the  reins,  g"uch  as  is  natural  to  the 
beginner,  will  almost  inevitably  brii:ig  him  to  grief 

All  high  leaps  should  be  approached  slowly,  and  those 
which  require  a  long  distance  to  be  covered,  should  be 
ridden  to  at  a  gallop. 

In  approaching  a  water  leap,  take  a  firm  hold  of  your 
horse's  head,  and,  having  made  up  your  mind  to  jump  it, 
do  not  let  him  swerve  to  the  right  nor  to  the  left ;  the  time 
for  indecision  has  passed,  and  the  leap  must  be  taken  at  all 
cost,  or  that  horse  will  never  face  water  again. 

Be  careful  never  to  lead  your  horse  to  a  leap  which  you 
are  not  sure  that  he  can  cover,  except  in  a  case  of  abso- 
lute necessity ;  he  will  then,  if  necessary,  go  to  severe 
leaps  with  confidence,  and  with  a  good  chance  of  "cariy- 
ing"  them. 

Do  not  try  to  lift  your  horse  at  his  leaps.  You  might 
as  well  try  to  lift  yourself  by  your  boot-straps.     If  y(;ur 


284  HOW   TO   RIDE   A   HORSE. 

horse  need  animating  by  ^vhip  or  spur,  let  it  be  done  be- 
fore you  approach  the  leap.  Any  interference  on  the  part 
of  the  rider,  at  the  time  of  leaping,  is  more  likely  to  do 
harm  than  good.  In  descending  from  the  leap,  tlirow  the 
shoulders  and  body  well  back,  to  prevent  a  fall  forward. 
Confine  yourself  entirely  to  the  standing  leap,  until  both 
you  and  your  horse  can  perform  it  properly.  This  will 
render  the  flying  leap  always  easy  and  safe ;  but  if  the 
horse  be  first  taught  the  flying  leap,  he  will  acquire  the 
bad  habit  of  rushing  at  his  fences. 

Do  not  disgust  your  horse  by  making  him  leap  repeat- 
edly over  the  same  place ;  rather  lead  him  to  believe  that 
the  leaps  are  taken  from  necessity. 

It  is  generally  best  not  to  ride  to  the  bank  of  a  ditch  to 
examine  it,  and  then  turn  to  run  at  it ;  if  it  lie  in  your 
way,  and  you  are  pretty  sure  of  its  character,  either  take  it 
on  faith  and  go  at  it,  or  don't  attempt  it  at  all ;  any  inde- 
cision will  render  your  horse  nervous,  and  lessen  his  ability 
to  leap  safely. 

The  Art  of  Falling. — "  He  that  will  venture  noth- 
ing, must  not  get  on  horseback,"  and  every  horseman 
must  expect,  sooner  or  later,  to  be  thrown.  Nimrod 
says :  There  is  an  art  in  falling,  as  well  as  in  prevent- 
ing falls.  This  consists  in  getting  clear  of  the  horse  as 
soon  as  possible.  If  thrown  over  the  horse's  head,  put 
out  one,  and  if  possible,  both  hands,  to  prevent  tiK) 
shock  from  being  received  by  the  head ; — a  broken  collar 
bone  is  better  than  a  broken  neck. 

If  the  horse  falls,  the  rider  should  roll  away  from  him 
as  soon  as  he  possibly  can,  lest  in  his  struggle  to  rise 
again  he  strike  him  with  his  legs  or  liead.  Instead  of 
losing  hold  of  his  reins,  and  abandoning  his  horse  to  his 
own  will,  as  the  man  who  is  flurried  at  this  time  invari- 
ably does,  he  keeps  them  in  his  hand,  if  not  always,  per 


•BIDING  WITH   LADIES.  285 

liaps  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  and  this  secures  his  horse. 
It  was  the  remark  of  a  gentleman  who  was,  from  his 
desperate  system  of  riding,  and  despite  of  his  fine  horse- 
manship, known  to  have  had  more  falls  than  any  other  man 
during  the  time  he  hunted  in  Leicestershire,  that  nothing  had 
so  low  an  appearance  as  that  of  a  man  running  on  foot 
over  a  field,  calling  out,  "  stop  my  horse."  In  case  of  a 
severe  fall,  if  surgical  aid  cannot  be  immediately  obtained, 
drink  a  wineglassful  of  strong  vinegar  and  water ;  its  revul-  * 
sive  power  on  the  circulation  will  delay  inflammation. 

Riding  with  Ladies.^K  the  lady  with  whom  you  are 
to  ride  is  a  good  horsewoman,  and  her  horse  is  perfectly 
trained,  your  responsibility  is  a  light  and  pleasant  one,  in- 
volving only  those  usual  attentions  in  mounting  and  dis- 
mounting which  suggest  themselves.  Any  unnecessary 
interference  with  the  lady,  or  her  horse,  or  excessive  solici- 
tude for  her  safety,  must,  to  a  woman  of  good  sense,  be 
annoying,  and  may  not  unfrequently  be  the  cause  of  acci- 
dents. As,  however,  a  lady  is  never  so  well  prepared, 
from  her  mode  of  dress,  natural  timidit}^,  and  inferior 
strength,  for  the  exigences  of  an  accident,  or  a  contest 
with  a  frightened  horse,  you  should  always  be  watchful 
of  her  horse,  without  appearing  to  be  so,  especially  when 
passing  vehicles  or  unusual  objects  on  the  road. 

If  the  lady  be  inexperienced,  or  her  horse  badl}^  trained, 
an  increased  responsibility  rests  upon  the  gentleman  ;  and 
here  coolness  and  good  judgment  on  his  part  are  requisite. 
If  the  lady  be  timid  he  must  inspire  her  with  confidence,  not 
by  ridiculing  her  fears,  but  by  a  quiet  consideration  of  her 
wishes  and  solicitudes,  even  when  they  are  the  result  of  a 
foolish  timidity.  She  will  then  receive  his  assurances  that 
"there  is  no  danger,"  with  a  reliance  upon  his  judgment 
which  she  could  not  otherwise  feel. 

If,  on  the  other  hand,  as  is  yqvj  often  the  case  she  be 


286  HOW  TO   RIDE   A   HORSE. 

over-confident  of  "her  own  skill  or  the  good  disposition  of 
tlie  horse,  keep  a  vigilant  eye  upon  her,  but  do  not  un- 
wisely show  your  own  anxiety,  or  utter  cautions  which  will 
only  tempt  her  to  a  greater  displays  of  her  own  fearlessness, 
with  a  laugh  at  your  advice;  At  the  proper  moment  you 
may  suggest  the  danger  you  see,  giving  her  the  reasons  for 
your  apprehensions. 

The  instructions  for  assisting  the  lady  in  mounting  will 
be  found  in  the  chapter  on  Ladies'  Eiding,  and  comprise 
all  that  is  necessary  on  that  topic. 

If  you  are  to  ride  with  a  lady  under  circumstances  which 
render  it  probable  you  will  have  to  assist  her,  or  on  thor- 
oughfares where  many  vehicles  will  be  met,  ride  on  the 
left  side  of  her ;  but  if  otherwise,  it  is  well  to  consult  her 
preferences  as  to  which  side  you  shall  take.  There  is 
no  rule  to  be  prescribed  on  this  point,  though  the  advan- 
tages of  riding  on  the  left  side  may  be  stated  as  follows  : 

You  have  the  right  hand  nearest  to  her,  to  render  her 
any  assistance,  if  required.  On  the  other  side  your  bridle- 
hand,  Vv'hich  is  comparatively  inefficient  for  this  purpose,  is 
the  only  one  you  can  conveniently  use. 

Any  disarrangement  or  entanglement  of  the  skirt  can  be 
corrected  by  the  gentleman,  and  is  less  liable  to  be  ob- 
served by  passers-by. 

The  left  side  being  the  one  on  which  all  carriages  pass, 
you  ride  between  them  and  your  lady's  horse. 

Conversation  is  much  more  easily  carried  on,  as  the  lady 
can,  with  less  exertion,  turn  her  face  toward  the  gentleman. 

If  the  saddle  turn,  or  any  accident  render  it  necessary 
to  lift  the  lady  from  the  saddle,  the  left  side  is  always  pref- 
erable. 

The  objections  to  riding  on  this  side  are,  that  an  awk- 
ward rider,  or  horse,  may  hurt  or  incommode  the  lady's 
feet,  and  that  it  is  sometimes  desirable  to  the  lady  to  ad 


RIDING  WITH  LADIES.  287 

just  her  dress  when  she  would  prefer  the  gentleman  to  be 
on  the  other  side. 

In  rapid  riding,  keep  near  to  your  lady,  but  do  not  crowd 
her;  the  horses'  heads  should  be  equally  advanced,  but 
when  about  to  pass  a  vehicle  you  may  ride  slightly  for- 
ward, to  be  more  sure  not  to  press  her  feet  in  turning  out, 
and  to  be  in  a  better  position  for  assisting  her. 

If  it  become  necessary,  in  an  extremity,  to  lift  the  lady 
from  the  saddle,  direct  her  to  remove  her  leg  from  the 
pommel,  and  to  take  the  reins  in  the  right  hand ;  then  hug 
your  left  foot  close  under  your  horse's  side,  to  strengthen 
your  position  and  to  move  him  as  close  to  her  as  possible ; 
hold  your  reins  in  the  left  hand,  pressing  the  back  of  the 
knuckles  against  the  left  side  of  the  pommel  of  your  sad- 
dle, for  a  fulcrum,  and  then  grasp  her  with  the  right  arm 
firmly  around  the  waist,  and  lift  her  on  to  j^our  right 
thigh ;  turn  your  horse  sharply  around  to  the  right,  that 
her's  may  not  kick  her  on  finding  himself  free. 

The  lady  should  keep  a  firm  hold  of  her  reins  until  she 
begins  to  leave  the  saddle,  when  she  should  drop  them 
and  grasp  your  horse's  mane,  at  the  same  time  disengag- 
ing her  foot  from  the  stirrup.  During  the  whole  operation 
the  gentleman  must  be  firm  and  decided,  and  must  studi- 
ously avoid  feeling,  and  consequently  communicating  to 
his  companion,  the  least  alarm. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

ladies'    riding. 

written  by  a  lady. 

learnina  to  ride — the  sidesaddle — the  girths— the  stirrup — the  bri- 
dle—the martingale — the  bit — the  dress — mounting  and  dis- 
mounting— the  position — the  hands — accidents. 

EvEKY  lady  should  learn  to  ride ;  not  at  a  mature  age, 
when  her  frame  has  become  exhausted  by  a  sedentary  life, 
and  consequent  ill  health  ;  nor  even  when,  her  school-days 
being  over,  she  is  thought  to  have  leisure  for  wholesome 
exercise ;  but  in  childhood,  when  her  will  is  strong  and 
her  body  obedient  to  it.  Particularl}^  in  our  large  cities, 
too  little  care  is  given  to  the  physical  culture  of  young 
girls.  Their  minds  are  engaged,  not  often  with  energetic 
mental  work,  but  with  idle  thought  for  dress  and  show ; 
while  no  other  exercise  is  taken  than  a  measured  daily 
walk,  and  occasional  dancing  and  waltzing. 

Where  household  labor  is  disdained,  and  no  opportu- 
nity can  be  afforded  for  floriculture  or  any  other  agreeable 
out-door  occupation,  there  is  no  substitute  so  good  as 
horseback  riding.  But  for  the  country  girl  it  becomes 
indispensable.  Not  her  health,  perhaps,  but  her  happiness 
demands  it.  No  woman  ever  rides  so  well  as  one  who 
from  childhood  has  loved  her  pet  colt.  She  has  chased 
him,  perhaps,  for  hours  around  a  ^  ten-acre  lot:'  and  when, 
his  frisky  mood  over,  she  has  been  able  to  take  him  coax- 
ingly  by  the  mane  and  lead  him  to  a  mounting  place,  great 
was  the  triumph  of  her  wild  ride.  And  no  training  or 
care  can  give  the  freedom  and  skill  of  this  youthful  prac- 
[288] 


Fig. 


LEARNING  TO   RIDE. 

tice.  When,  at  length,  she  is  able  to  bridle  and  saddle 
him,  her  seat  may  be  somewhat  faulty,  and  her  use  of  the 
reins  awkward,  but  these  faults  are  easily  remedied,  and 
are  certainly  atoned  for  by  her  freedom  and  fearlessness. 
Besides,  no  one  can  fully  enjoy  riding  wlio  does  not  both 
love  and  admire  the  noble  animal  which  she  rides ;  and  the 
quick  intelligence  of  the  horse  yields  ready  obedience  to 
the  hand  and  voice  of  a  woman  who  has  learned  lovingly 
to  control  him.  His  affectionate  nature  yields  to  her  the 
mastery,  often  more  readily  than  to  a  stronger  power. 

Well  mounted  on  a  strong,  spirited  horse — with  a  wide 
country  before  her — on  a  clear,  cool  day — with  a  love  for 
all  the  beauty  around  her,  of  the  noble  animal  beneath  her, 
and  glowing  with  the  bounding  life  within  her,  a  lady 
capable  of  enjoyment  is  certainly  prepared  for  it  then. 
The  first  gentle  pace  of  the  horse  starts  the  warm  blood 
in  her  veins,  and  as  both  become  excited,  the  glow  tingles 
to  the  very  finger-tips.  The  close-clinging  to  the  horse, 
the  slight  reliance  upon  stirrup  and  bit,  and  the  generally 
light  proportion  of  rider  to  steed,  give  a  feeling  of  being 
possessed  of  the  powers  of  a  new  life,  of  riding  upon  the 
whirlwind,  and  jet  controlling  it  with  a  word. 

This  combination  of  a  sense  of  weakness  and  of  power, 
as  every  woman  knows,  is  her  greatest  delight,  and  is  the 
secret  of  many  an  enjoyment  which  she  attributes  to  other 
causes.  If  a  quieter  mood  possess  the  rider,  there  is  no 
such  pleasant  manner  of  strolling  over  a  wide  extent  of 
country,  otherwise  inaccessible.  The  discovery  of  new 
paths  and  openings  in  woods  and  hilly  country,  where 
momently  changes  are  succeeding  each  other  in  the  pano- 
rama, affords  delights  which  are  not  attainable  in  any 
other  way.  Even  hundreds  of  miles  of  travel  are  more 
pleasantly  accomplished  in  the  saddle  than  in  any  other 
manner,  even  by  ladies;  provided  always  that  they  be 
13 


Fro.  34.— Ladies'  Saddle  without  the  right-hand  horn. 


FiO.  35. — ^Th«  reverse  view  of  the  above,  showing  the  Leaping-horn.  [2901 


THE   SIDE-SADDLE.  291 

well  attired  and  well  mounted.  Then  the  companionship  of 
friends  is  infinitely  more  sweet  under  the  exhilerating  influ- 
ences of  active  exercise,  fresh  air,  and  keen  physical  enjoy- 
ment. What  so  gay  as  a  party  of  high-spirited  equestrians  ? 
The  emulation  of  riders  and  horses  adds  a  new  element 
of  enjoyment,  while  the  beauty  of  every  fair  rider  is 
enhanced  not  only  by  the  glow  of  pleasurable  excitement, 
but  by  the  contrasts  of  color  and  form  which  each  may 
present,  in  her  habit  and  her  horse.  Companies  of  gentle- 
men and  ladies,  in  full  hunting  suits,  bounding  in  all  the 
excitement  of  a  race  over  a  smooth  stretch  of  road,  or  bet- 
ter still,  over  wide  meadows,  in  eager  chase,  present  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  sights  imaginable.  Of  the  healthfulness 
of  this  most  delightful  of  accomplishments  too  much,  can- 
not be  said.  But  certainly  its  benefits  must  greatly  dimin- 
ish when  it  is  resorted  to,  merely  to  strengthen  the  body. 
If  a  lady  be  recommended  to  ride  for  her  health,  let  her 
first  seek  for  the  delight  of  riding,  for  nothing  is  more  tire- 
some than  being  heavily  jolted  in  a  lady's  saddle,  or  more 
wearisome  than  being  quietly  ambled  over  the  ground  by 
a  small,  spiritless  pony. 

To  ensure  ease,  elegance,  and  enjoyment  in  riding,  many 
things  are  requisite.     We  enumerate  as  follows : 

The  Sidesaddle.  —  The  following,  by  Mr.  Earey's 
English  editor,  is  sensible,  and  to  the  point : 

"Ladies'  saddles  ought  invariably  to  be  made  with  what 
is  called  the  leaping-horn,  or  crutch,  at  the  left  side,  (See 
figs.  34  and  35.)  The  right-hand  pommel  has  not  yet  gone 
out  of  fashion,  but  it  is  of  no  use,  and  is  injurious  to  the 
se\^.urity  of  a  lady's  seat,  by  preventing  the  right  hand  from 
being  put  down  as  low  as  it  ought  to  be  with  a  restive  horse, 
and  by  encouraging  the  bad  habit  of  leaning  the  right  hand 
on  it.  A  flat  projection  is  quite  sufficient.  This  will  be 
quite  clear  to  you,  if,  when  sitting  in  your  chair,  3'ou  put  a 


292 

cylinder,  three  or  four  inclies  in  diameter,  between  yonr 
legs,  press  your  two  knees  together  by  crossing  them,  in 
the  position  of  a  woman  on  a  sidesaddle.  Besides,  when 
a  man  clasps  his  horse,  however  firmly,  it  has  a  tendency 
to  raise  the  seat  from  the  saddle.  This  is  nol  the  case 
with  the  sidesaddle  seat :  if  a  man  wishes  to  use  a  lance 
and  ride  at  a  ring,  he  will  find  that  he  has  a  firmer  scat 
with  this  kind  of  sidesaddle  than  with  his  own.  There  is 
no  danger  in  this  side-pommel,  since  you  cannot  be  thrown 
on  it,  and  it  renders  it  next  to  impossible  that  the  rider 
should  be  thrown  upon  the  other  pommel.  In  case  of  a 
horse  leaping  suddenly  into  the  air  and  coming  down  on 
all  four  feet, — technically,  "  hucMncj^^ — without  the  leaping- 
horn  there  is  nothing  to  prevent  a  lady  from  being  thrown 
up.  But  the  leaping-horn  holds  down  the  left  knee,  and 
makes  it  a  fulcrum  to  keep  the  right  knee  down  in  its 
proper  place.  If  the  horse  in  violent  action  throws  him- 
self suddenly  to  the  left,  the  upper  part  of  the  rider's  body 
will  tend  downwards,  to  the  right,  and  the  lower  limbs  to 
the  left :  nothing  can  prevent  this  but  the  support  of  the 
leaping-horn.  The  fear  of  over-balancing  to  the  right 
causes  many  ladies  to  get  into  the  bad  habit  of  leaning 
over  their  saddles  to  the  left.  This  fear  disappears  when 
the  hunting-horn  pommel  is  used.  The  leaping-horn  is 
also  of  great  use  with  a  hard  puller,  or  in  riding  down  a 
steep  place,  for  in  either  case  it  prevents  the  lady  from 
sliding  forward. 

"  But  these  advantages  render  the  right-hand  pommel 
quite  useless,  a  slight  projection  being  all-sufficient  (see 
fig.  35)  ;  while  this  arrangement  gives  the  habit  and  figure 
a  much  better  appearance.  But  every  lady  ought  to  be 
measured  for  this  part  of  the  saddle,  as  the  distance  be- 
tween the  two  pommels  will  depend  partly  on  the  length 
of  her  legs. 


THE  STIRRUP.  293 

"  When  a  timid,  inexperienced  lady  has  to  ride  a  fiery 
horse,  it  is  not  a  bad  plan  to  attach  a  strap  to  the  outside 
girth  on  the  right  hand,  so  that  she  may  hold  it  and  the 
right-hand  rein  at  the  same  time  without  disturbing  her 
seat.  This  little  expedient  gives  confidence,  and  is  partio. 
ularly  useful  if  a  fresh  horse  should  begin  to  kick  a  littla 
Of  course,  it  is  not  to  be  continued,  but  only  used  to  givo 
a  timid  rider  temporary  assistance.  I  have  also  used  for 
the  same  purpose  a  broad  tape  passed  across  the  knees, 
and  so  fastened  that  in  a  fall  of  the  horse  it  would  give 
way."* 

The  prejudice  of  many  American  ladies,  especially  in 
the  country,  against  the  third  horn  of  the  saddle,  is  purely 
the  result  of  habit.  Having  always  been  accustomed  to 
the  old  style  of  saddle,  they  experience  a  restraint  in  the 
first  use  of  the  leaping-horn,  which  suggests  a  dangerous 
confinement  of  the  limbs,  and  they  seem  to  fear  that  they 
could  not  easily  disengage  themselves  from  it,  in  case  of 
accident.  This  fear  is  groundless ;  they  could,  in  no  case, 
get  off  on  the  right  side,  and  in  dismounting  to  the  left, 
the  leg  is  simply  lowered  away  from  it,  so  that  it  can,  in 
no  sense,  be  considered  an  obstacle  to  jumping  off  from  the 
horse.  The  mere  fact  that  it  prevents  that  worst  of  all 
accidents — being  thrown  on  to  the  left  horn  in  case  of 
the  horse  falling — is  an  unanswerable  argument  in  its 
favor,  and  no  lady,  who  has  become  accustomed  to  its  use, 
would  be  willing  to  dispense  with  it. 

The  Stirrup. — English  ladies  very  often  ride  with  the 
ordinary  open  stirrups,  and  it  is  not  clearly  apparent  why 
the  custom  is  not  universal.  Except  in  very  cold  weather, 
the  slipper  can  have  no  advantage,  and  in  very  warm 
weather  it  must  be  uncomfortable.     As,  however,  the  slip 

*  "  The  Art  of  Taming  Horses,"  &c.  From  this  work  we  have  also  taken 
the  suggestion  for  some  of  the  cuts  which  embellish  these  "Hints.'' 


294 


ladies'  eidikg. 


per  is  almost  universally  used  in  America,  two  cuts,  repre- 
senting the  most  fashionable  forms,  are  here  introduced. 
Figure  36,  is    the    ordinary    slipper,  with   a   small    pad 

buckled  over  the  iron, 
to  protect  the  ankle. 
In  fig.  37,  a  French  slip- 
per, the  ancle  is  more 
effectually  protected  by 
the  projection  and  turn- 
ing up  of  the  upper  edge 
of  the  slipper,  so  as  to 
entirely  separate  the 
iron  from  the  ancle. 

Girths. — The  ladies' 
saddle  should  be  sup- 
plied with  three  girths, 
— two  under  both  flaps, 
as  on  gentlemen's  sad- 
dles, and  one  under  the 
near-side  flap,  and  over 
the  off-side  flap.  They 
all  draw  up  on  the  off 
side,  and  on  horses  which  require  to  be  girthed  to  suffoca- 
tion, the  two  under  ones  should  be  made  tight  at  the 
stable,  and  again  after  the  lady  has  mounted,  and  then  the 
outer  girth  should  be  drawn  taut,  confining  the  flap  on  the 
off  side.  Well-bred  horses  have  high,  sharp  withers,  around 
which  it  is  impossible  for  the  saddle  to  turn,  and  do  not 
require  excessively  tight  girthing.  If  a  lady  hang  on  the 
near  side-horn  of  her  saddle,  no  amount  of  girthing  will 
prevent  the  saddle  from  bearing  hard  against  the  withers. 
The  girths  should  be  of  a  modest  color,  and  of  the  best 
quality  of  English  webbing. 

The  Bridle. — The  bridle  for  a  lady's  horse  should  be 


Fig.  37 


THE   BIT — THE    WHIP.  295 

perfectly  neat  and  simple.  The  head-stall  and  reins  should 
always  be  made  of  the  most  pliant  of  leather.  It  is  well 
to  have  the  two  reins  made  of  different  material,  or  of  dif- 
ferent size,  that  they  may  be  readily  distinguished.  It  is 
indispensable  that  a  lady  should  know  when  her  horse  is 
well  bridled  and  well  saddled,  and  she  should  study  the 
adjustment  of  bit  and  buckle. 

The  martingale  is  often  adopted  for  show,  rather  than 
use.  A  lady's  horse,  properly  broken,  will  bend  to  the 
hand  without  it,  and  where  not  absolutely  required,  it  is 
far  better  dispensed  with.  This  remark  applies  particu- 
larly to  the  nose  or  standing  martingale ;  for,  should  a 
horse  make  a  false  step,  half  his  power  to  recover  himself 
is  destroyed  b}^  the  manner  in  which  his  head  is  confined 
by  it.  The  objection  to  the  ring-martingale  is  not  so  great 
but  one  of  this  kind  can  only  be  used  on  the  snaffle-rein 
and  is  of  very  little  service. 

The  Bit. — Ladies  should  always  use  either  the  Pelham 
bit  (fig.  26),  or  the  bit  and  bridoon,  which  is  a  combination 
of  both  snaffle  and  curb.  Its  arrangement  is  shown  in 
figure  13.  There  are  many  sorts  and  sizes  of  these  bits. 
Some  are  very  light  and  elegant,  being  intended  especially 
for  ladies'  use.  Ornamental  frippery  should  find  no  place 
in  any  part  of  a  lady's  riding  outfit,  and  it  is  peculiarly 
inappropriate  for  the  bit,  which  should  be,  in  all  cases,  as 
strong  and  effective  as  possible.  There  is  no  bit  in  the 
world  which,  while  it  does  not  annoy  a  nervous  horse, 
gives  such  absolute  control  over  an  obdurate  brute  as  this 
very  Baucher  bit  elsewhere  described.  Its  large,  smooth 
canon  is  easy  in  the  mouth,  and  the  great  length  of  the 
branches  affords  a  leverage  which  is  especially  necessary 
to  riders  of  little  strength. 

The  Whip,  an  essential  element  of  the  lady's  riding 
outfit,  should  be  stiff  and  substantial,  without  being  heavy. 


29G 

It  may  be  liglitly  made,  and  finished  witli  delicate  orna- 
ment, and  often  becomes  a  gem  in  the  hidj's  costume.  It 
is  needed  not  so  much  to  punish  the  horse  or  to  animate 
him,  as  to  control  his  movements  by  its  pressure  against 
his  flank,  as  the  gentleman  controls  his  horse  by  a  pres- 
sure with  his  right  leg. 

The  Dkess. — "Few  ladies  know  how  to  dress  for  horse 
exercise,  although  there  has  been  a  great  improvement,  so 
far  as  taste  is  concerned,  of  late  years.  As  to  the  head- 
dress, it  may  be  whatever  is  in  fashion,  provided  it  fits  the 
head  so  as  not  to  require  continual  adjustment,  often  needed 
when  the  hands  would  be  better  employed  with  the  reins 
and  whip.  It  should  shade  from  the  sun,  and,  if  used  in 
hunting,  protect  the  nape  of  the  neck  from  rain.  The  re- 
cent fashions  of  wearing  the  plumes  or  feathers  of  the 
ostrich,  the  cock,  the  pheasant,  the  peacock,  and  the  king- 
fisher, in  the  riding  hats  of  young  ladies,  are  highly  to 
be  commended. 

The  hair  should  be  arranged  in  the  firmest  manner  pos- 
sible. If  suited  to  the  style  of  the  lady,  it  may  be  plaited  at 
the  back  and  looped  across,  in  a  manner  which  will  support 
the  hat  and  present  a  very  comely,  appearance.  Or  it  may 
be  found  pleasanter  to  turn  all  of  the  back  hair  to  the  top 
of  the  head,  where  a  high  hat  is  used.  All  loose  arrange- 
ments of  the  hair,  except  short  curls,  when  they  are  natural, 
should  be  avoided.  But  few  hair-pins  should  be  used,  and 
those  long  and  firmly  woven  into  the  hair. 

Ladies'  habits  are  usually  made  too  long ;  if  the  extra 
length  be  turned  to  a  heavy  hem  at  the  bottom,  it  will  be 
found  much  more  likely  to  stay  well  down  over  the  feet, 
which  is  all  that  is  required  ;  weights  are  unnecessary  and 
cumbersome.  A  foot  longer  than  an  ordinary  skirt  will  be 
found  sufficient,  if  the  material  be  suitable.  Light  cloth 
will  be  found  the  most  appropriate  for  the  skirt,  if  the  color 


THE   DRESS.  297 

be  becoming  and  sufficiently  dark.  For  country  riding  it 
may  be  bordered  a  foot  deep  with  leather.  A  habit  of  the 
same  should  be  worn  in  winter,  adapted  in  shape  to  the 
figure  of  the  lady.  If  she  be  short  and  plump,  the  more 
closely  it  fits  the  figure  the  better,  particularly  the  sleeves, 
which  should  never  be  large.  If  she  be  slight,  the  dress 
may  be  opened  in  front  and  the  sleeves  loosened  at  the 
wrist,  with  white  linen  chemisette  and  sleeves.  ISTo  basque, 
or  a  very  slight  one,  should  be  worn,  nor  anything  else 
which  will  flutter  in  the  wind.  No  ornament  is  needed.  A 
good  effect  of  color  and  form  is  all  that  is  seen  or  that  is 
desirable. 

"  The  fashion  of  a  waistcoat  of  light  material  for  summer, 
revived  from  the  fashion  of  the  last  century,  is  a  decided 
improvement,  and  so  is  the  over-jacket,  of  cloth  or  seal- 
skin, for  rough  weather.  It  is  the  duty  of  every  w^oman  to 
dress  in  as  becoming  and  attractive  a  manner  as  possible ; 
there  is  no  reason  why  pretty  young  girls  should  not  in- 
dulge in  picturesque  riding  costume  so  long  as  it  is  appro 
priate. 

"  Many  ladies  entirely  spoil  the  set  of  the  skirts  by  re- 
taining the  usual  impedimenta  of  petticoats.  The  best 
dressed  horsewomen  wear  nothing  more  than  a  flannel  che- 
mise with  long,  colored  sleeves,  under  their  trousers. 

"Ladies'  trousers  should  be  of  the  same  material  and  color 
as  the  habit,  and  if  full,  flowing  like  a  Turk's  and  fastened 
wdth  an  elastic  band  round  the  ankle,  they  will  not  be  dis- 
tinguished from  the  skirt.  In  this  costume,  which  may  be 
made  amply  warm  by  the  folds  of  the  trousers,  plaited  like 
a  Highlander's  kilt, — fastened  with  an  elastic  band  at  the 
waist, — a  lady  can  sit  down  in  a  manner  impossible  for 
one  encumbered  by  two  or  three  short  petticoats.  It  is  the 
chest  and  back  which  require  double  folds  of  protection 
during,  and  after,  strong  exercise." 


298  ladies'  riding. 

If  ladies  prefer,  a  quilted  skirt,  not  too  fall,  may  be 
worn.  It  should  be  lined  with  silk  or  glazed  muslin,  and 
will  be  found  no  impediment.  Long  boots  are  a  great  com- 
fort and  protection  in  riding  long  distances. 

All  ladies  who  desire  that  riding  should  be  to  them  a 
healthful  exercise,  must  take  great  care  that  their  dress  be 
perfectly  easy  in  every  part,  particularly  over  the  chest  and 
around  the  ribs.  Let  the  boots  be  easy,  and  their  gloves, 
which  should  be  leather  gauntlets,  large  and  soft,  and  all 
elastic  bands  very  loose. 

Mounting. — The  lady  in  mounting  should,  if  conven- 
ient, be  assisted  by  two  persons  ;  one  to  hold  the  horse, — 
standing  directly  in  front  of  him,  and  holding  by  the  check 
pieces  of  the  bridle,  above  the  bit, — and  the  other  to  assist 
her  to  her  seat.  Having  taken  the  reins  and  whip  in  the 
right  hand,  she  will  stand  with  her  face  towards  the  horse's 
head,  and  with  her  right  hand  on  the  left  pommel  of  the 
saddle.  In  the  left  hand  she  will  hold  her  skirt,  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  enable  her  to  raise  it  clear  of  the  gTound. 
The  gentleman  will  stand,  facing  her,  and  opposite  to  the 
horse's  shoulder,  Avith  his  left  hand  holding  by  his  mane ; 
this  steadies  the  horse  when  the  lady  springs.  The  gentle- 
man will  now  stoop  and  take  the  lady's  left  foot,  which  has 
been  raised  fifteen  inches  from  the  ground,  in  his  right  hand, 
clasping  it  firmly  under  the  instep.  The  skirt  having  been 
raised  to  clear  the  foot,  is  now  dropped,  and  the  lady  places 
her  left  hand  on  the  gentleman's  right  shoulder,  giving  a 
spring  to  straighten  the  left  knee.  During  this  spring  the 
gentleman  will  simply  keep  his  hand-  still,  supporting  the 
lady's  weight,  but  not  raising  her  until  the  knee  is  fairly 
straightened,  when  he  may  lift  her  to  the  required  height, 
but  without  trying  to  pusli  her  over  on  to  the  saddle.  Slie 
will  find  her  seat  more  easily  without  such  assistance,  which 
woTild  often  tend  to  throw  her  over  the  horse,  rather  than 
18* 


THE   POSITION.  299 

on  his  back.  Being  seated  witli  her  right  hand  still  on  the 
pommel,  the  lady  will,  with  her  left  hand,  adjust  the  folds 
of  her  skirt.  She  Avill  then  remove  her  hand  from  the  pom- 
mel, and  place  her  right  knee  over  it;  when  the  gentleman 
will  place  her  foot  in  the  stirrup,  and  then  aid  her  in  tak- 
ing -proper  hold  of  the  reins  and  whip.  When  this  is 
accomplished,  the  attendant  at  the  horse's  head  steps  out 
of  the  way,  and  the  lady  assumes  the  control.  Fortunately, 
the  operation  is  less  tedious  than  its  description. 

DiSMOUNTiiCG. — A  lady  dismounts  with  perfect  ease. 
After  the  groom  has  taken  his  place  in  front  of  the  horse  and 
secured  him,  by  releasing  her  hold  upon  the  bridle  and 
stirrup  and  lifting  her  right  leg  over  the  pommel,  which  she 
now  holds  with  the  right  hand,  while  the  left,  on  the 
shoulder,  or  in  the  hand  of  her  gallant,  affords  her  suffi- 
cient support  in  slipping  to  the  ground. 

THE    POSITION. 

The  Seat  in  the  Sidesaddle. — The  lady  should,  by 
exercises  similar  to  those  recommended  for  gentlemen,  en- 
deavor to  acquire  a  perfect  independence  of  the  rein-hold  in 
the  security  of  her  seat.  She  should  be  able  to  lean  far  to 
the  right  or  to  the  left,  or  lie  back  on  the  horse's  haunches, 
or  forward  on  his  neck,  and  to  regain  her  position  without 
disturbing  her  seat  in  the  saddle,  and  without  holding  by 
the  reins.  With  the  use  of  the  leaping-horn  it  will  be 
more  easy  for  her  to  attain  perfection,  in  this  respect,  than 
it  will  be  for  the  man,  who  must  depend  in  a  great  measure 
on  the  clip  of  his  legs. 

We  introduce  a  series  of  cuts  to  show  the  difference  be- 
tween good  and  bad  positions  in  the  sidesaddle.  Fig.  38 
represents  the  proper  position,  the  figure  being  erect,  di- 
rectly over  the  horse's  spine,  the  shoulders  at  an  equal 
height,  and  the  elbows  near  the  sides.  Fig.  39  shows  a  more 


300  ladies'  RIDING. 

common  faulty  position,  the  weight  of  the  body  being 
placed  far  to  the  left,  and  supported  by  the  horn.  This 
position  is  taken  from  a  fear  of  falling  to  the  right,  and  is 
most  distressing  to  the  horse,  while  it  makes  the  lady  look 
as  though  hung  on  a  peg  at  his  side.  In  iig.  40,  the  last 
described  ungraceful  position  is  attempted  to  be  avoided  by 
a  lady  who  takes  her  seat  in  the  proper  place  on  the  sad- 
dle, and  at  that  point,  her  courage  failing  her,  bends  her 
shoulders  far  to  the  left,  by  a  combination  of  curves  more 
remarkable  than  beautiful. 

The  fear  which  occasions  these  faults  will  in  a  great 
measure  disappear  if  the  leaping-horn  be  adopted. 

The  spine  should  be  perpendicular  over  a  line  running 
lengthwise  through  the  centre  of  the  saddle,  and  the  right, 
leg,  by  which  the  weight  should  be  n\^nly  supported, 
should  lie  as  far  from  the  right  as  the  construction  of  the 
saddle  will  allow.  The  right  leg,  from  the  knee  down, 
should  lie  close  to  the  saddle,  rather  than  be  pressed  hard 
against  it.  Care  should  be  taken  to  keep  the  foot  turned 
to  the  right ;  otherwise  the  lady  can  have  no  firm  hold,  and 
it  will  break  one  of  the  most  graceful  lines  of  her  flowing 
skirt. 

It  is  also  important  that  the  stirrup  be  not  too  short.  It 
should  be  of  such  a  length  as  to  raise  the  left  thigh 
lightly  against  the  leaping-horn,  while  the  heel  is  very 
slightly  depressed  below  the  level  of  the  ball  of  the  foot. 
The  leg  can  then  be  either  borne  hard  against  the  horn,  or 
lowered  slightly  away  from  it  at  pleasure. 

The  Hands. — It  is  believed  by  many  that  a  good  seat 
is  all  that  is  required  to  make  a  good  rider,  and  it  is  un- 
doubtedly of  vast  importance  to  the  fair  equestrienne.  But 
this  excellence  can  be  more  easily  obtained  than  the 
proper  use  of  theTiands.  However  strange  it  may  seem,  a 
"heavy  "  hand  is  found  quite  as  common  among  ladies  as 


THE    HANDS.  301 

gentle  men,  thougli  this  is  more  from  lack  of  decision  and 
energy  than  from  any  other  cause.  Practice  alone  can 
ensure  a  delicate  hand,  unless  it  be  a  natural  gift.  Some 
hints  towards  holding  the  reins  properly  will  assist  ma- 
terially. 

Ladies,  particularly  those  with  very  small  hands,  will 
often  find  it  burdensome  to  hold  their  reins  both  in  one 
hand,  as  is  universally  taught  in  our  riding-schools.  For 
young  riders  it  is  best  to  use  both  hands,  pulling  the  right 
rein  when  they  wish  to  go  to  the  right  hand,  and  the  left 
when  they  wish  to  go  to  the  left.  It  is  better  for  new  be- 
ginners to  ride  with  one  bridle  and  two  hands,  than  with 
two  bridles  and  one  hand :  it  ensures  a  square  seat,  and 
■  gives  that  power  which  can  only  be  dispensed  with  when 
great  skill  is  acquired.  A  man  has  the  power  of  turning 
a  horse,  to  a  certain  extent,  with  his  legs  and  spurs ;  a  wo- 
man must  depend  on  her  reins,  her  Avhip,  and  her  left  leg. 
The  best  way  for  a  lady  is,  if  her  hand  be  light,  to  knot  up 
the  snaffle  and  let  it  rest  within  her  reach,  in  case  of  acci- 
dent to  the  other  rein.  Or,  if  her  touch  be  not  delicate 
enough  for  the  curb,  let  her  hold  it  lightly  and  depend  on 
the  snaffle.  In  this  case  the  snaffle  should  be  taken  on 
either  side  of  the  second  finger  of  the  bridle  hand,  and  the 
curb  on  either  side  of  the  little  finger.  Eeverse  the  order,  if 
it  is  desirable  to  use  the  curb.  Two  reins  are  certainly 
more  safe,  and  sufl&cient  practice  will  enable  a  lady  to  use 
them  with  perfect  ease.  She  should  be  able  to  shift  them 
instantly  to  the  right  hand,  without  slackening  her  pace,  in 
case  of  disarrangement  of  her  skirt,  or  other  accident. 

Ladies,  whose  hands  are  sufficiently  large,  may  ride  with 
the  four  reins  gathered  in  the  left  hand,  keeping  the  elbow 
close  to  the  side,  and  the  thumb  pointed  upward,  as  re- 
commended for  gentlemen ;  but  usually  with  ordinary 
reins,  only  the  snaffle,  or  the  curb-rein, — as  the  case  may 


302  ladies'  riding. 

be, — can  be  held  gathered,  and  the  otner  must  lie  across 
the  hand  (fig.  32).  When  two  reins  are  held  in  each  hand 
they  should  be  arranged  as  in  fig.  33,  but  the  whip  should, 
usually,  be  dropped  and  allowed  to  hang  by  its  cord  from 
the  wrist,  as  the  two  reins  are  quite  enough  for  a  lady's 
hand,  and  this  double  hold  of  both  reins  is  not  often  neces- 
sary at  a  time  when  the  whip  is  called  for. 

The  Whip  and  the  Left  Heel  are  valuable  aids  to  a  lady 
in  the  saddle.  By  a  proper  use  of  them  she  is  enabled  to 
retain  a  much  freer  hold  upon  her  reins.  Particularly  in 
stopping  and  turning  they  are  invaluable.  Also,  in  starting^ 
the  pressure  of  the  leg  and  whip  should  be  applied  to 
bring  the  horse  up  to  the  bit.  In  making  the  turn  he 
must  be  kept  well  up,  and  be  assisted  both  by  a  steady  feel- 
ing of  the  outward  rein,  which  should  onl}^  be  relaxed 
enough  to  admit  of  an  easy  inclination  of  the  horse  to  the 
side  to  which  he  is  to  turn,  and,  by  a  stronger  pressure  of 
the  outward  aid, — the  leg  or  whip, — to  keep  the  haunches 
from  falling  too  much  out.  Care  must  be  taken  at  all  times 
to  make  the  step  steady,  and  not  by  a  sudden  or  violent 
pull  upon  the  reins,  which  often  causes  some  horses  to  rear, 
and  injures  others.  The  use  of  the  reins,  the  heels  and  the 
whip  mighb  be  enlarged  upon  indefinitely;  but  only  the 
nicest  care  and  minute  observation  can  teach  the  lady  the 
rare  art  of  perfect  management. 

Accidents. — Ladies,  of  course,  should  never  ride  horses 
which  are  in  any  manner  vicious.  But  the  best  animals 
are  not  faultless,  nor  the  most  sure-footed  always  reliable. 
The  lady  should  therefore  be  prepared  for  critical  situations.  ' 
Perhaps  the  most  common  fault  is  shying.  If  a  horse  is 
known  to  be  afraid  of  any  object,  his  attention  may  often- 
times be  diverted  by  turning  away  his  head  or  speaking 
kindly  to  him  ;  also,  rather  than  to  oppose  him,  he  may 
often  to  much  better  advantage  be  humored  in  his  whims, 


ACCIDENTS.  303 

and  even  be  compelled  to  continue  tliem  after  he  is  tired; 
thus,  if  he  turn  short  round,  make  him  turn  in  the  same 
direction  half  a  dozen  times.  If  he  refuse  to  go  forward 
compel  him  to  go  backward. 

Stumbling  is  more  often  a  habit  or  an  infimity  than  an 
accident.  Where  it  is  accidental,  it  is  generally  in  a  young 
horse,  who  will  probably  recover  himself  without  danger 
to  the  rider;  but,  on  the  slightest  intimation,  she  must 
throw  her  body  back,  and  by  raising  her  hands  raise  his 
head  and  assist  him  to  regain  himself  The  greatest 
danger  a  lady  encounters  is  the  possibility  of  her  horse 
rearing  very  high ;  when  she  should  be  sufficiently  self- 
possessed  to  slacken  his  rein  and  throw  the  whole  weight 
of  her  body  forward,  being  always  ready  to  rise  the  mo- 
ment the  horse  comes  to  the  ground.  With  proper  watch- 
fulness of  eye  and  hand,  a  well-seated  lady  will  always  be 
prepared  for  any  emergency.  Above  all  things  be  chary 
of  an  improper  use  of  the  whip.  ^ 

Kemember  that  with  a  long  skirt  about  her  feet,  and  with 
little  experience  in  such  exercise,  it  is  always  unsafe  for  ix 
lady  to  leap  from  her  saddle.  She  can  tell  at  once,  on 
mounting,  if  her  saddle  is  not  securely  girthed,  so  that 
only  inexcusable  neglect  will  admit  of  its  turning.  So 
long  as  the  saddle  is  in  its  place,  and  the  horse  on  his  feet, 
a  lady  should  7iever  leave  him  under  any  circumstances  un- 
less he  be  rearing  badly,  and  an  attendant  be  at  hand  to 
receive  her  ;  if  the  saddle  turn  entirely  off  from  the  horse's 
back,  or,  if  he  has  fallen  and  cannot  recover  himself,  a  lady 
may  disengage  herself  quickly,  but  carefully.  In  a  runa- 
way, her  place  is  close  down  in  the  saddle,  holding  the  four 
reins  low  on  either  side,  and  giving  an  alternate  tension 
to  the  curb  and  snaffle,  steadying  her  horse  in  the  road  and 
saving  her  strength  to  force  him  to  run  long  after  he  would 
gladly  stop. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

HOW     TO     DRIVE     A     HOESE. 

THE  ART  OP  DRIVING — PLEASURE  DRIVING — HOW  TO  HOLD  THE  REINS— DRIV- 
ING- A  PAIR— FOUR-IN-HAND  DRIVING— DRIVING  WORKING  HORSES — PLOW- 
ING— THREE-A-BREAST. 

When  the  colt  is  once  made  to  understandjsrhat  is  required 
of  him,  in  both  double  and  single  harness,  his  after  education 
depends  on  the  skill  and  patient  perseverance  of  his  driver. 
The  art  of  driving,  whether  for  pleasure  or  work,  demands 
a  clear  understanding  of  the  requirements  of  each  particular 
case,  and  attention  to  every  motion  of  one's  horse.  Pleasure 
%orses  are  required  to  travel  actively,  evenly,  safely,  and  with 
as  much  style  as  possible,  while  work  horses  are  required 
to  throw  their  weight  into  the  collar,  and  with  a  steady, 
even  pull,  without  swerving  to  the  right  or  to  the  left,  and 
without  fretting  or  noticing  what  is  going  on  about  them, 
to  keep  up  a  uniform  motion  of  their  load,  at  no  time  losing 
the  assistance  of  its  momentum,  and  never  unnecessarily 
wasting  their  strength  by  a  sudden  rapid  pull.  The  ability 
of  the  horse  to  assume  one  or  the  other  of  these  characters 
depends  even  less  upon  his  own  nature  than  on  the  manner 
in  which  he  is  driven. 

In  Pleasure  Driving  the  seat  should  be  rather  high^ 
so  that  one  may  easily  see  over  the  dash-board  of  the  car- 
i-iage,  but  low  enough  for  a  direct  pull  on  the  bit  when  it 
is  necessary.  The  feet  should  be  firmly  planted  (avoiding 
an  ungraceful  or  studied  attitude,)  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
give  strength  to  the  pull,  and  security  to  the  position,  in 

[304] 


.      HOLDING   THE   KEINS.  305 

case  of  a  sudden  jolt  of  the  carriage.  The  legs  and  "Viips 
should  be  as  firm  and  immovable,  and  the  upper  part  of  the 
bodj'  should  be  as  free  and  flexible,  as  possible,  the  princi- 
ple being  borne  in  mind,  as  in  the  case  of  riding  on  horse- 
back, that  while  the  seat  should  be  perfectly  secure,  this 
security  should  not  imply  the  least  "support  from  the  reins, 
nor  the  least  inability  to  do  whatever  may  be  necessary 
with  the  head  or  arms. 

The  eyes  of  the  driver  should  be  always  on  his  horses, 
yet  always  about  him.  While  he  should  see  every  strap 
and  buckle  within  eye-shot,  every  movement  of  the  horses' 
ears,  every  toss  or  shake  of  their  heads,  'and  every  step 
that  they  take,  he  should  also  see  every  vehicle  coming 
toward  him,  every  object  by  the  roadside,  or  elsewhere, 
which  can  possibly  frighten  his  team,  and  every  stone  or 
uneven  place  in  the  road  on  which  they  are  likely  to  step, 
or  which  may  come  in  the  way  of  the  wheels.  To  sit  in 
this  manner,  and  to  be  thus  watchful  while  driving  a  pair 
of  lively  horses,  and .  at  the  same  time  to  appear  perfectly 
at  ease,  is  no  small  accomplishment ;  still  it  may  be  attained 
by  practice,  and  is  essential  to  elegance  in  driving. 

The  manner  of  holding  the  reins  should  depend  on  cir- 
cumstances. They  may  be  both  held  in  the  left  hand  in 
either  of  the  following  ways,  the  hand  being  held  with  the 
thumb  upward: — 

First.  Let  the  off  rein  pass  over  the  fore  finger,  and 
the  near  rein  between  the  fore  and  middle  fingers,  the 
thumb  pressing  on  the  off  rein  to  keep  it  in  place,  and  both 
reins  passing  out  between  the  ring  and  little  fingers,  as 
shown  in  fig.  41;  in  this  way  they  can  be  held  very 
securely. 

Second.  Let  the  near  rein  pass  under  the  little  finger, 
and  the  off  rein  between  the  ring-finger  and  little  finger, 
both  ends  being  brought  out  between  the  thumb  and  fore 


S06  HOW   TO   DRIVE  A  HORSE. 

finger,  falling  over  the  knuckles,  and  being  secured  by 
the  pressure  of  the  thumb,  as  is  shown  in  figure  42;  this  is 
a  lighter  hold  than  the  former,  and  is  better  for  driving 
perfectly  trained  horses  which  require  only  the  least  touch 
to  bring  their  heads  into  the  proper  (perpendicular)  position. 
It  is  more  fatiguing  than  that  first  described,  with  horses 
which  are  at  all  hard  on  the  bit. 

When  it  is  desirable  to  hold  the  reins  in  both  hands,  the  off 
rein  may  be  taken  in  the  right  hand,  by  passing  the  fore 
finger  under  it, and  allowing  it  to  fall  down  through  the  hand, 
and  out  between  the  ring  and  little  fingers;  this  will  admit 
of  the  hand  be'ing  opened  to  take  the  whip.  (See  fig.  43.) 
The  rein  in  the  left  hand  may  remain  in  the  same  position 
as  before.  If  it  be  necessary  to  strike  a  severe  blow  witli 
the  whip,  the  rein  should  be  passed  into  the  left  hand,  and 
quickly  regained  after  the  blow  has  been  struck;  this 
manner  of  holding  the  reins  will  give  the  greatest  possible 
power  over  the  team.  The  whip  should  be  taken  from  its 
socket  only  when  there  is  occasion  to  use  it,  and  it  should 
be  returned  as  soon  as  it  has  become  unnecessarj^  While 
held  quietly  in  the  hand  it  should  lie  horizontally  across 
the  near  rein,  and  pointing  over  the  whiffle-tree  on  the 
near  side. 

Driving  a  single  horse  is  not  at  all  difficult,  and  it  re- 
quires only  a  good  hand,  a  good  temper,  and  a  watchful 
eye.  The  horse's  mouth  should  be  lightly  felt,  that  lie 
^tnay  be  supported  if  he  trip  ;  and  especially  in  going  down 
hill,  the  driver  should  sit  with  his  feet  well  braced  and  his 
hand  ready  to  support  the  horse  in-  a  false  step,  which,  if 
at  all,  is  most  likely  to  occur  at  this  time. 

Driving  a  pair  of  horses  requires  much  more  skill   and 
care.     It  is  thus  described  by  Stonehenge  : 

,  "In  Driving  a  Pair,  the  great  art  cciisists  in  putting 
them  together  so  as  to  draw  equally,  and  Co  step  together 


DRIVING   A   FAIR.  807 

To  do  this  well,  the  horses  must  match  in  action  and  tem- 
per, two  slugs  being  much  better  than  a  free-tempered 
horse  with  a  slug ;  because,  in  this  case,  the  whip  applied 
to  the  one  only  makes  the  other  more  free,  and  as  a  con- 
sequence it  is  impossible  to  make  them  draw  equally.  In 
some  cases  where  two  horses  are  exactl}^  equally  matched, 
the  coupling-reins  must  both  be  of  equal  length  ;  but  this 
is  seldom  the  case ;  and  when  they  do  not  do  an  equal 
amount  of  work,  the  coupling-rein  of  the  free  one  must  be 
taken  up,  and  that  of  the  idle  horse  let  out.  In  watching 
the  working  of  the  two  horses  the  pole-pieces  should 
always  be  the  guide;  and  if  both  are  slack,  with  the  end 
of  the  pole  steady,  and  neither  horse  shouldering  it,  the 
driver  may  rest  contented  that  his  horses  are  each  doing 
their  share ;  if,  however,  the  pole  is  shouldered  by  either, 
that  horse  is  a  rogue,  and  is  making  the  other  do  more 
than  his  share,  keeping  the  pole  straight  by  the  pressure  of 
his  shoulder,  instead  of  pulling  at  the  traces.  On  the 
other  hand,  if  either  horse  is  pulling  away  from  the  pole, 
and  straining  at  the  pole-piece,  he  is  doing  more  than  his 
share,  and  his  coupling-rein  must  be  taken  in  accordingly. 
Sometimes  both  shoulder  the  pole,  or  spread  from  it,  which 
are  equally  unsightly  habits,  and  may  generally  be  cured 
by  an  alteration  of  the  coupling-reins  of  both  horses,  let- 
ting them  out  for  shouldering,  and  taking  them  in  for  its 
opposite  bad  habit.  The  reins  are  held  in  the  same  way  for 
double-harness  as  for  single.  In  driving  a  pair,  it  shoulft^ 
alwaj^s  be  remembered  that  there  are  two  methods  of  driv- 
ing roimd  a  curve,  one  by  pulling  the  inside  rein,  and 
the  other  by  hitting  the  outside  horse,  and  these  two-should 
generally  be  combined,  graduating  the  use  of  the  whip  by 
the  thinness  of  the  skin  of  the  horse.  In  all  cases  the 
whip  is  required  in  double  harness,  if  not  to  drive  horses 
when   thoroughly   put  together,  yet  to  make  them  pull 


308  HOW   TO   DRIVE   A   HORSE. 

equally  ;  and  there  are  very  few  pairs  which  do  not  occa- 
sionally want  a  little  reminding  of  their  duties.  A  constant 
change  from  one  side  to  the  other  is  a  prevention  of  those 
tricks  and  bad  habits  which  horses  get  into  if  they  are 
kept  to  one  side  only.  The  coachman  should,  therefore, 
change  them  every  now  and  then,  and  back  again,  so  as  to 
make  what  was  a  puller  from  the  pole,  rather  bear  towards 
it  than  otherwise  when  put  on  the  other  side." 

There  is  a  certain  animation  of  manner  on  the  part  of 
the  driver  which,  without  being  noisy  or  demonstrative, 
keeps  a  team  lively  and  cheerful  at  work,  while  another 
driver  would  not  be  able  to  get  them  to  nearly  so  good  a 
pace  with  even  more  labor  to  himself,  and  more  fatigue  to 
them.  To  attain  this  correspondence  with  one's  horse 
should  be  the  object  of  every  person  who  attempts  to 
become  a  fine  driver.  No  such  influence  can  be  had  over 
a  horse  which  is  not  light  in  hand,  and  sprightly  in  his 
action, — that  is,  in  the  condition  which  is  best  and  most  eas- 
ily attained  by  the  suppling  for  the  saddle  described  in  the 
chapter  on  that  subject.  Some  of  the  advantages  of  this 
are,  that  it  gives  the  horse  more  style, — that  is,  a  higher, 
more  graceful  step,  a  better  carriage  of  the  head  and  tail, 
and  generally  a  more  lithe  appearance.  It  has  consider- 
able influence  in  causing  the  horses  of  a  double  team  to 
step  together  in  measured  time.  This  must  of  course 
depend  very  much  on  their  relations  as  to  size  and  form, 
l»Ml  it  will  do  more  than  any  other  mode  of  training  to 
equalize  their  steps,  as  it  renders  them  very  sensitive  to 
the  least  action  of  the  hand,  and  as  the  trotting  of  one 
horse  will  produce  a  slight  reaction  on  the  band,  it  must 
have  an  equal  effect  on  the  mouth  of  the  other  horse  with 
which  the  hand  is  equally  connected. 

FouR-iN-HAND  DRIVING. — With  respect  to  coupling 
four-horse   teams,   the    heads,  particularly   those    of   the 


FOUR-IN-HAND   DRIVING.  809 

wheel-horses,  should  not  be  too  closely  confined.  It  looks 
well  to  see  them  with  their  heads  close  together,  running 
boldly  up  to  their  bits ;  but  if  you  confine  them  too 
tightly,  they  cannot  apply  all  their  power  to  the  collar. 

Wheel-horses  should,  in  this  respect,  have  more  liberty 
than  their  leaders,  not  only  on  account  of  the  pole,  but  to 
enable  them  to  "  quarter  their  ground"  and  bring  them- 
selves into  a  proper  situation  to  hold  back  in  going  down 
hill,  which  they  cannot  do  if  their  heads  are  confined. 
When  the  leaders'  heads  are  well  together,  they  are  much, 
easier  driven ;  the  least  motion  of  the  wrist  will  affect  their 
mouths,  and  of  course  they  are  much  safer  on  their  feet ; 
for,  on  the  least  false  step  they  make,  the  support  of  the 
coupling-rein  is  immediately  felt ;  without  this,  they  would 
be  down  before  they  could  receive  assistance  from  the 
coachman's  hand. 

Of  the  two  reins  used  for  coupling,  one  must  be  upper- 
most at  the  crossing ;  that  one  should  be  buckled  to  the 
horse  that  carries  his  head  highest,  otherwise  he  will  be 
constantly  annoying  his  partner's  mouth. 

All  attempts  at  directions  for  curbing  coach -horses  ciust 
be  vain,  and  can  only  be  regulated  by  their  mouth,  temper 
and  disposition. 

Horses  with  hard  dead  mouths  require  the  greatest  skill 
and  management  to  draw  tolerably,  and  should  not  be 
curbed  up  tightly,  as  that  will  tend  to  increase  the  diffi- 
culty. To  ride  or  drive  horses  with  pleasure  and  advan- 
tage, you  must  have  a  light  finger  and  play  with  their 
mouths  with  skill  and  humor.  Some  horses  have  a  trick 
of  getting  the  check  of  their  bit  into  their  mouths  ;  this 
is  very  dangerous,  and  should  be  prevented  by  a  washer 
or  round  piece  of  leather. 

The  most  dangerous  horse  in  a  team  is  a  stiff-necked 
one,  which,  in  going  down  hill,  instead  of  inclining  his  head 


310  HOW   TO  DEIVE   A   HORSE. 

towards  liis  partner,  and  throwing  out  his  quarters  so  as  to 
hold  back  the  coach,  twists  his  head  another  way,  looking 
over  one  shoulder,  and  with  the  other  shouldering  the  pole 
or  his  partner.  When  you  have  one  of  this  sort  you  can 
do  nothing  with  him  by  pulling  up,  but  must  whip  his  mate 
up  to  him,  and  if  that  does  not  answer,  cross  the  road 
quickly  with  the  leaders,  to  prevent  running  off  to  the 
side  to  which  he  is  pushing. 

If  your  horses  are  nervous  and  fidgety,  they  will  not 
bear  being  confined  too  tightly  at  first  starting,  but  must 
be  humored  and  allowed  some  length  of  chain,  particularly 
if  the  road  be  rough  and  full  of  ruts.  When  there  are' no 
breechings  the  horse  requires  to  be  nearer  to  the  pole,  or  in 
holding  back  his  collar  will  get  too  far  forward,  unless 
restrained  by  a  false  martingale.  Some  coachmen  object 
to  breechings  as  being  troublesome  to  horses  in  hot  weather, 
but  they  are  almost  indispensable  in  hilly  countries,  as 
they  enable  the  horse  to  hold  back  with  less  strain  on  his 
back  and  legs,  and  add  greatly  to  the  security  of  both  team 
and  vehicle. 

The  draft  of  the  leaders  will  be  greatly  equalized  by 
crossing  the  inside  traces,  fastening  that  of  the  near  horse 
to  the  whiffle-tree  of  the  off  side,  and  that  of  the  off  horse 
to  the  near  whiffle-tree. 

The  great  art  in  driving  four-in-hand  is  to  favor  the 
j)eculiarities  of  the  different  horses  of  the  team.  It  is  not 
often  that  all  four  will  draw  equall}^  at  all  times,  nor  is  it 
desirable  that  they  should  do  so.  By  allowing  first  one 
and  then  another  to  slacken  his  pull,  the  team  will  be  able 
to  do  more  in  a  day  than  if  all  were  always  pulling.  Some 
horses  will  naturally  draw  at  their  best  on  starting  off,  anl 
will  work  with  less  energy  after  a  few  miles,  while  others 
will  hang  back  at  first,  and  come  in  to  their  \vork  as  they 
get  warmed  up.      By  consulting  their   inclinations,   the 


DRIVING   WORKING  HORSES.  311 

driver  may  economize  the  strength,  and  preserve  the 
temper  of  his  team,  so  as  to  secure  a  greater  amount  of 
work  with  less  effort  than  if  he  kept  the  sluggard  up  to 
the  bit  from  the  start,  and  restrained  the  early  ardor  of 
the  more  spirited  animal. 

If  your  horses  have  a  fancy  for  working  in  a  peculiar 
manner,  or  at  a  particular  stage  of  the  journey,  you  will 
derive  an  advantage  from  consulting  that  fancy  as  far  as 
practicable.  Fig.  d  shows  the  manner  in  which  the  reins 
may  be  held  in  the  left  hand,  and  fig.  e  the  manner  in 
which  the  off  reins  may  be  taken  in  the  right*  hand,  for 
more  careful  driving.  When  the  reins  are  all  held  in  the 
left  hand,  the  right  may  be  laid  on  any  one  or  more  of 
them  as  occasion  may  require. 

In  turning  corners,  draw  the  leaders  around  first  and 
let  the  wheel  horses  follow  as  nearly  as  possible  in  their 
tracks — not  turn  at  the  same  time. 

On  ascending  ground,  the  leaders  should  do  more  than 
half  of  the  work,  to  compensate  the  wheel-horses  for  their 
extra  effort  in  holding  back  when  going  down  hill. 

Driving  Working  Horses  differs  from  pleasure  driv- 
ing, as  much  as  does  its  object.  One  desideratum  in  pleas- 
ure driving  is  a  certain  style  and  a  regard  to  appearanc?, 
while  teaming  or  business  driving  has  for  its  main  object  the 
best  economy  of  the  strength  of  the  team,  and  its  appli- 
cation to  the  performance  of  labors.  It  is  true  that  a  team- 
ster may  have  a  just  pride  in  the  appearance  and  style  of 
his  team,  but  this  should  always  be  subordinate  to  their 
usefulness,  and  the  main  problem  which  he  has  to  solve 
is,  how  to  turn  a  certain  amount  of  invested  capital,  and  a 
certain  amount  of  hay  and  grain  to  the  best  account,  in 
performing  the  work  in  which  he  and  his  team  are  em- 
ployed. To  accomplish  this,  having  the  horses  fed  in  a 
manner  to  give  them  the  greatest  possible  strengtli  and 


312  HOW   TO   DRIVE  A  HORSE. 

health,  and  so  groomed  that  their  systems  are  in  the  best 
condition  for  appropriating  the  nutriment  of  their  food,  he 
should  keep  the  following  rules  always  in  view : 

First. — The  load  should  be  just  what  the  horse  or  the 
team  can  move  steadily  along,  being  neither  so  light  that 
they  are  occupying  their  time  in  going  over  the  road  with 
less  than  they  can  draw,  nor  so  heavy  that  they  must  over- 
tax their  strength  to  draw  it,  or  stop  to  take  breath  and 
to  recover  from  the  effects  of  too  hard  a  strain ;  in  short, 
they  should  do  all  that  they  can  do  comfortably,  never 
much  less,  and  never  any  more. 

Second. — Horses  will  work  better  if  they  are  kept  well 
up  to  the  bit,  not  sufficiently  to  pull  on  it,  but  just  enough 
to  feel  its  effect  and  to  receive  its  support  in  case  of  a  false 
step,  than  when  allowed  to  become  negligent  and  careless 
in  their  gait. 

Third. — Wlien^ there  are  two  or  more  horses  in  a  team, 
they  should  be  so  harnessed  as  to  draw  exactly  alike. 
This  requires  them  to  be  of  uniform  dispositions,  and  in 
equally  good  training;  an}^  deviation  from  this  will  cause 
one  horse  to  do  more,  and  another  less,  than  his  share  of 
the  work. 

Fourth. — Working  horses  should  never  be  whipped 
while  drawing,  except  it  is  absolutely  necessary  ;  and  then 
they  should  not  simply  be  tapped,  but  smartly  punished 
in  a  manner  that  will  cause  them  to  understand  and  to 
recollect  that  their  driver  really  means  that  they  shall 
work,  and  work  properly. 

Fifth. — If  necessary  to  stop  to  rest  before  going  up  a 
hill,  let  the  halt  bo  at  a  little  distance  from  the  foot  of  the 
hill,  that  they  may  not  get  in  the  habit  of  stopping  just  at 
the  foot  of  every  hill  which  they  encounter.  When  they 
are  fully  rested  and  prepared  to  go  on,  let  them  move 
vigorously,  but  do  not  allow  them  to  rush  at  the  hill ;  they 


DRIVING   WORKING  HORSES.  313 

would  in  sucli  a  case  lose  more  in  wind  than  they  would 
gain  in  impetus.  If  possible,  go  moderately  up  every  hill 
without  stopping,  recollecting  that  it  is  much  harder  to 
start  a  load  against  a  hill,  than  it  is  to  keep  it  in  motion 
after  it  is  started.  At  the  top  of  every  difficult  hill,  either 
stop  the  team  or  let  them  walk  slowly  for  a  few  rods,  until 
they  have  recovered  from  the  effects  of  the  extra  exertion. 

Sixth. — At  all  times,  and  especially  in  difficult  places,  or 
when  first  starting  with  a  heavy  load,  the  driver  should 
carefully  avoid  exciting  his  team  by  crossness  or  impatience, 
but  should  hold  them  steadily  by  the  bit,  and  talk  to  them 
in  a  quiet  and  determined  manner,  endeavoring  to  keep 
them  cool  and  resolute,  pulling  evenly  and  steadily  until 
they  start  their  load,  without  making  a  sudden  jump  at  it, 
as  many  nervous  horses  are  inclined  to  do.  Such  a  move- 
ment is  very  likely  to  disconcert  the  other  horses,  and  it 
exhausts  the  strength  more  than  ten  times  the  effort  prop- 
erly expended. 

Seventh. — In  descending  a  hill,  especially  if  there  be  no 
break  or  drag  on  the  wheels,  the  team  should  be  so  held 
back  that  the  wagon  never  gets  an  increasing  speed,  and 
the  pole  should  be  kept  in  an  exact  line  with,  and  not 
diagonally  across,  the  wagon. 

Eighth. — The  team  should  never  be  so  hardly  driven  as 
to  become  blown  (where  it  is  possible  to  avoid  it),  nor 
should  they  ever  be  allowed  to  become  indolent,  or  care- 
less in  their  gait.  They  should  always  be  active  and  will- 
ing, but  never  impatient  to  do  more  than  is  clearly  within 
their  powers. 

A  road  team,  well  kept,  and  driven  according  to  the 
above  directions,  wdll  last  longer,  keep  in  better  condition, 
and  do  more  work  than  horses  managed  by  the  ordinary 
s\-  t  m,  and  in  the  hands  of  persons  who  are  either  not 
able  or  not  willing  to  give  any  thought  to  the  matter. 
14 


314  HOW   TO   DRIVE  A   HORSE.     . 

These  directions  apply  to  all  sorts  of  teaming,  whether  with 
drays  or  trucks  in  towns,  or  with  farmers  or  manufacturers' 
wagons  on  country  roads. 

The  proper  driving  of  stage  and  omnibus  horses  is  a 
combination  of  the  essential  points  of  pleasure  and  team- 
driving.  The  team  should  still  be  kept  cool  and  resolute, 
and  yeTj  free  from  impatience,  and  they  should  at  the 
same  time  be  held  so  well  in  hand  that  they  can,  at  a 
moment's  warning,  be  either  stopped  or  turned  suddenly 
out  of  their  course.  They  should  also  be  able  to  start 
from  a  halt  steadily,  and  without  loss  of  time.  As  it  is 
important  that  their  pace  should  seldom  degenerate  into  a 
walk,  their  trot  should  be  uniform,  and  not  excessively 
fast ;  and  unless  the  horses  are  only  required  to  go  very 
short  stages,  they  should  not  travel  faster  than  from  six  to 
eight  miles  per  hour,  according  to  their  load. 

Plowing. — Plowing  on  rough  ground,  with  horses  which 
are  fit  for  anything  else,  is,  at  best,  a  painful  necessity. 
There  is  occasionally  to  be  found  a  stylish  carriage  team, 
or  a  pair  of  fast  trotters  which  will  work  like  oxen  at  the 
plow ;  but  generally  horses  of  spirit  will  become  impatient 
under  the  frequent  interruption  caused  by  stones,  or  by 
the  frequent  turning  necessary  in  small  fields,  while  the 
harness  generally  used  for  this  work  is  neither  comfortable 
nor  complete.  In  large  fields,  free  from  obstructions, 
horses  may  very  properly  be  used,  as  they  are  more  pleasant 
to  work  with  than  oxen  ;  but  in  rough  work  the  latter  are 
preferable,  being  by  temper  and  structure  much  better 
adapted  to  such  work  than  horses.  " 

Horses  are  frequently  driven  to  the  plow  with  the  sin- 
gle line,  or  with  a  pair  of  lines  fastened  to  the  outer  rings 
of  each  horse's  bit,  the  inside  rings  being  connected  by  a 
short  line  passing  from  one  to  the  other.  This  will  do 
very  well  for  quiet,  well-trained  animals,  in  good  gnnmd  ; 


PLOWING. 


316 


but  with  horses  at  all  inclined  to  be  unruly  or  impatient, 
or  working  in  soft  or  stony  ground,  we  should  use  the 
same  sort  of  reins  as  in  driving  on  the  road,  thus  giving  a 
fair  hold  of  each  horse's  head. 

Horses  used  for  this  work  should  be  taught  to  stop  in- 
stantly at  the  word,  to  start  promptly  and  together,  and  to 
pull  evenly.    The  team  should  be  brought  quickly  around 


Fig.  42. — Lines  for  plowing  three-abreast. 


at  the  turns  and  headlands,  and  made  to  take  their  places 
as  actively  as  possible  for  the  new  furrow  ;  but  they  should 
not  be  started,  if  at  all  blown,  until  they  are  fully  ready  to 


316  HOW   TO    DKIVE   A   HORSE. 

go  to  the  end  of  it  without  stopping,  unless,  indeed,  it  be  a 
very  long,  or  a  very  hard  one. 

It  is  the  opinion,  apparently  a  good  one,  of  the  best 
farmers  of  the  present  day,  that  no  two  horses  are  strong 
enough  to  turn  such  a  furrow  as  is  necessary  for  the  proper 
cultivation  of  the  soil,  and  they  recommend  that  three  or 
four  be  used.  Assuming  this  to  be  the  case,  it  should  be 
remembered  that  three  horses  w^orking  abreast  will  pull 
nearly  as  much  on  a  plow  as  will  four  geared  in  the  ordi- 
nary way, — that  is,  the  third  horse,  from  being  fastened 
within  three  or  four  feet  of  the  plow,  would  have  nearly 
as  much  power  to  draw  it  as  would  two  horses  drawing  it 
from  a  distance  of  from  fifteen  to  twenty  feet. 

Fig.  41  represents  the  best  form  of  whififle-tree  for  three 
horses  plowing  abreast.  Fig.  42  is  an  arrangement  for  the 
lines  for  plowing  with  such  a  team,  which  will  be  found 
effective  for  horses  w^hich  are  inclined  to  pull  irregularly, 
before  being  sufdciently  broken,  but  as  soon  as  the}^  un- 
derstand it,  the  lines  marked  a  and  h  may  be  dispensed 
wit'i.  Indeed,  intelligent  horses  will  soon  learn  to  work 
entirely  without  lines.  The  writer  had  a  three-horse  team 
which  he  trained  to  plow  by  the  word  in  less  than  a 
month,  so  that  they  would  work  perfectly  well  without 
lines  on  the  shortest  turns.  There  are  few  horses  which 
will  not  become  irregular  in  their  working  without  the 
assistance  of  the  lines. 


CHAPTER  XX 


RAREY'S  SYSTEM  A  NEW  DISCOVERY — PREVIOUS  SYSTEMS— PRINCIPLES  OP  THIS 
SYSTEM— INSTRUCTIONS  FOR  PRACTISING   RAREY'S   METHOD— TO  STABLE  THE 

HORSE— TO    APPROACH      THE    HORSE— TYING    UP    THE    LEG LAYING     THE 

HORSE   DOWN— VICIOUS   AND   BAD   HABITS— REARING— KICKING BAULKING 

— PULLING   ON   THE   HALTER — SHYING. 

The  metliod  of  taming  horses  termed  the  Rarey  system 
is  clearly  a  new  discovery ;  for,  although  others  have  in 
this  country  and  elsewhere  used  some  of  the  practices,  such 
as  tying  up  the  foot,  &c.,  in  its  successful  and  perfect  form 
no  one  preceded  Mr.  Rarey,  or  even  very  much  assist- 
ed him  in  the  discovery. 

J.  S.  Rarey  was  an  Ohio  farmer,  and  his  family  connec- 
tions still  reside  near  the  city  of  Columbus.  He  has  been, 
from  his  childhood,  a  horse-breaker  of  some  reputation 
among  his  neighbors,  and  even  when  he  had  first  developed 
his  present  system  he  very  quietly  practiced  it  in  the  more 
unsettled  parts  of  the  country,  extending  his  travels  even 
to  Texas.  He  taught  his  system  to  others  for  a  small  fee, 
and  wrote  a  pamphlet  some  six  years  ago,  which  he  gave 
to  his  pupils,  but  which  was  kept  by  them  under  a  promise 
of  secrecy.  This  is  the  only  book  ever  published  by  Mr. 
Rarey,  but  one  of  his  pupils  in  England  has  written  a  very 
readable  little  volume*  on  this  system,  and  other  matters 

*  The  art  of  Taming  Horses,  by  J.  S.  Rarey,  &c.,  by  the  Hunting  corres- 
pondent of  the  Illustrated  London  News.  London :  George  Routledge  &  Co. 

[317] 


318 

of  interest  to  the  horseman.  From  Mr.  Karey's  pamphlet 
and  this  English  work  our  chapter  has  been  compiled,  and 
we  can  assure  the  reader  that,  however  much  the  practice 
may  be  varied  and  extended,  the  system  as  now  practiced 
by  Mr.  Karey  is  here  given  : 

The  subjection  of  vicious  horses  has  been  a  great  desid- 
eratum ever  since  horses  were  first  ridden  by  man,  but, 
until  very  recently,  there  has  been  no  knowledge  of  a 
rational  means  for  rendering  them  docile  or  tractable. 
The  plans  hitherto  adopted  have  generally  been  too  much 
according  to  the  directions  of  a  ITorfolk  trainer,  of  the 
time  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  who  wrote  as  follows : 

**  If  your  horse  does  not  stand  still,  or  hesitates,  then  alrate  him 
with  a  terrible  voyce  ;  and  beat  him  yourself  with  a  good  sticke 
upon  the  head  between  the  ears;  and  then  stick  him  in  the  spurring 
place  iii  or  iiii  times  together,  with  one  legge  after  another,  as  fast 
as  your  legges  might  walk :  your  legges  must  go  like  two  bouching 
beetles." 

The  most  celebrated  horse  tamer,  before  Earey's 
time,  was  an  Irishman  named  Dan  Sullivan,  known  as  the 
''Irish  Whisperer,"  who  would,  after  a  half  hour's  private 
interview  with  the  most  vicious  horse,  bring  him  out  per- 
fectly tamed, — so  long  as  he  himself  used  him,  but  he 
would  not  remain  docile  in  the  hands  of  other  persons. 
Sullivan  pretended  to  have  got  his  secret  from  a  poor  sol- 
dier, who  revealed  it  as  an  Indian  charm.  The  secret  was 
given  by  Sullivan  to  one  of  his  sons,  but  it  is  not  now 
known.  Probably  it  was  not  capable  of  a  general  appli- 
cation. 

All  other  methods  of  taming  very  vicious  horses, 
so  far  as  we  have  any  information,  have  been  based  on 
cruelty,  and  harsh  treatment,  and  they  were  never  entirely 
successful. 


PRINCIPLES   OF   THE   SYSTEM.  319 

The  mere  reading  of  "Rarey's  directions  is  not  sufficient 
to  make  horse-tamers  of  all  who  choose  to  try  a  hand  at 
it ;  these  directions  are  a  stepping  stone,  and  an  introduc- 
tion to  a  series  of  processes  which  they  sufficiently  illus- 
trate, which  can  be  carried  into  effect,  only  by  the  aid  of 
experience. 

The  success  of  Mr.  Earey  in  England  was  such  as  but 
few  of  any  calling  have  attained,  he  having  maue  in  a  few 
months,  over  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  subscriptions 
to  his  lectures,  and  having  gained  the  acquaintance  of 
many  of  the  best  people  in  the  kingdom.  In  London  he 
tamed  a  Zebra,  an  animal  hitherto  considered  untamable, 
so  that  he  could  ride  him  as  he  pleased.  He  also  tamed 
Cruiser,  the  most  vicious  stallion  in  England,  "  who  could 
do  more  fighting  in  less  time  than  any  other  horse  in  the 
world,"  and  who  for  a  long  time  had  to  be  fed  through  a 
barred  helmet.  It  was  considered  as  much  as  any  man's 
Jife  was  worth  to  attend  to  him. 

There  Avere  many  other  very  remarkable  instances  of 
the  success  of  Mr.  Earey's  attempts  to  tame  horses  that 
were  so  violently  vicious  that  all  previous  efforts  to  subdue 
them  had  failed. 

In  bringing  a  horse  to  that  state  in  whicli  he  obeys 
without  resistance  the  will  of  man,  we  have  to  overcome — 
First^  his  fear  of  the  presence  and  actions  of  man.  Second^ 
his  anger  J  or  an  instinctive  resentment,  of  which  the  unbro- 
ken horse  makes  as  unmistakable  an  exhibition  as  any 
other  animal,  or  even  man  himself.  Third^  his  waywardness^ 
or  the  natural  desire  for  liberty  of  action  and  impatience  of 
restraint :  and  we  must  supplant  these  passions  by — First^ 
affection  for  his  master^  that  instinct  so  strong  in  the  dog 
and  elephant,  and  traceable  in  some  other  animals.  jSeco7id^ 
a  fear  of  the  chiding  or  chastisement  of  his  master,  united 
with  the  conviction  that  the  only  way  to  avoid  or  escape 


320  rahey's  horse-taming. 

it  is  bv  obedience.  Third^  an  interest  in^  or  ambition  for  ^  the 
labors  to  be  performed :  the  last  is  most  clearly  seen  in 
the  eagerness  of  the  nobler  bloods  for  the  race,  the  chase, 
or  even  for  the  battle. 

The  means  which  are  adopted  for  accomplishing  this  are 
— First^  familiarity  with  the  presence  of  man  under  circum- 
stances which  convince  him  of  man's  kind  intentions.  A 
colt  accustomed  to  be  handled  and  kindly  treated,  will  be 
easily  trained  to  the  harness,  or  at  least  rendered  in  some 
degree  manageable  when  grown.  Second^  some  system 
which  shall  demonstrate  to  the  horse  the  superiority  of 
man,  and  his  power  to  overcome  him  physically.  Of  this 
we  have  instances  in  the  capture  and  subduing  of  wild 
elephants  in  India,  of  wild  horses  on  the  plains  of  Amer- 
ica, and  it  has  been  the  method  of  breaking  refractory 
horses,  in  all  times  and  among  various  nations.  The 
mounting  by  a  strong  rider,  who  holds  the  painful  thong  or 
bit  in  the  mouth  of  the  horse,  and  urges  him  to  his 
greatest  endeavors  to  remove  his  burden,  until,  weary  and 
exhausted  with  vain  efforts,  he  is  submissive,  is  a  process 
long  known  to  savage  and  civilized  horsemanship.  Sub- 
sequently the  horse  must  gradually  be  made  to  understand 
the  language  of  words  and  signals  by  which  his  master 
would  communicate  to  him  his  wishes,  and  the  training  is 
complete. 

We  must  not,  however,  overlook  one  all-important  ele- 
ment whicli  has  not  often  been  taken  into  account,  and 
never  fully  explained — the  magnetic  influence  which  a  fear- 
less man  has  overall  inferior  animals";  an  influence  much 
stronger  in  some  persons  than  in  others.  It  is  vrell  known 
that  all  animals,  even  those  most  wild  and  ferocious, 
instinctively  regard  man  with  feelings  different  from  those- 
exhibited  toward  other  beings;  and  although  they  meet 
him  for  the  first  time,  in  their  own  haunts,  where  they 


PRINCIPLES   OF   THE   SYSTEM.  321 

have  reigned  supreme,  they  show  great  dread  of,  and  rarely 
begin  an  attack  upon  him.  This  proves  a  recognition 
of  man's  position,  which  in  their  domesticated  state  devel- 
ops into  a  wholesome  fear,  mingled  with  a  dependence  upon 
him ;  and  instances  are  by  no  means  rare,  where,  with  the 
most  vicious  horses  the  calm,  firm  demeanor  of  a  man  or 
woman  has  quelled  resistance,  when  strength  and  violence 
had  failed. 

The  contest  between  the  horse  and  his  master  will  be 
more  or  less  violent  and  protracted,  in  proportion  to  the 
strength  and  disposition  of  the  horse,  and  the  nature  of  the 
means  used,  or  the  skill  of  the  horseman. 

In  Mr.  Rarey's  system  all  the  requirements  here  stated 
are  supplied,  by  means  so  simple  that  almost  any  one  may 
apply  them,  and  it  is  so  efficacious  as  to  leave  scarcely  a 
wish  for  anything  more  or  better. 

At  no  stage  of  the  contest  is  there  any,  even  temporary 
advantage  gained  by  the  horse,  to  relieve  the  hopelessness 
of  the  struggle,  and  it  permits  the  comparatively  quiet 
position  of  the  master,  while  the  horse  is  engaged  in  the 
most  desperate  efforts,  every  one  of  which  brings  him 
more  inextricably  into  difficulty,  while  every  submission 
brings  him  relief,  until,  upon  his  final  abandonment  of  all 
effort,  he  lies  helpless  but  comfortable  upon  the  ground,  and 
the  soothing  attentions  of  his  master  convince  him  that  no 
harm  is  intended  him ;  and  to  complete  the  triumph  he 
wins  his  gratitude  and  affection  by  releasing  him  from  his 
difficulties.  In  approaching  a  vicious  animal  Mr.  Rarey 
brings  most  distinctly  to  his  aid  the  magnetism  before 
alluded  to,  which  courage  and  unflinching  firmness  will 
always  enable  us  to  exercise  upon  the  Horse. 

The  maxim  so  well  stated  by  Mr.  Rarey  should  be  con- 
stantly borne  in  mind — "  Fear  and  anger  a  good  horseman 
should  never  feeV 
14* 


322 


rarey's  horse-taming. 


INSTRUCTION'S   FOR  PRACTICING  RAREY'S  METHOD. 

If  you  are  not  well  accustomed  to  the  handling  of 
unbroken  and  spirited  horses,  your  first  subject  for  practice 
should  be  a  comparatively  quiet  horse.  After  you  have 
repeatedly  laid  him  down  as  directed,  you  can  try  others 
more  difficult  until  you  can  at  length  undertake  those  that 
are  vicious  and  even  untamable  by  other  methods. 

Preparations. — Supply  yourself  with  a  strong  surcingle^ 
to  be  buckled  around  the  horse  at  the  girth ;  a  strap^  as 


Fig.  48. — Strap  with  buckle. 


Fig.  49.— Wooden  gag-bit. 

represented  at  Fig.  48,  made  of  good  stout  leather  an  inch 
and  a  quarter  wide  and  three  feet  or  more  in  length, 
having  a  loop  by  which  to  form  a  noose,  and  a  strong 
buckle;  a  second  strap^  without  a  buckle,  but  with  a 
loop  made  by  doubling  over  one  end  of  the  strap  and 
sewing  it  strongly.  This  strap  should  not  be  less  than 
five  feet  in  length,  A  common  bridle^  with  stout  reins 
and  bit,  will   answer  for  ordinary  horses,  but  for  vicious 


PREPARATIONS. 


823 


animals  inclined  to  bite,  a  wooden  gag-bit^  as  in  Fig.  49, 
is  used  by  Mr.  Karey.  A  long 
huggy  whip^  with  a  good  cracker, 
should  be  kept  near  at  hand.  If 
you  intend  to  ride  the  horse  after 
his  lesson,  your  saddle  should  be 
accessible,  or  be  handed  to  you  at 
the  right  time.  If  there  is  danger 
of  the  horse  hurting  his  knees,  a 
pair  oflcnee-pads  should  be  provid- 
ed (Fig.  50),  the  body  of  which 
(h)  is  made  of  felt ;  c  is  a  leather 
shield  ;  a  is  the  strap,  with  a 
buckle,  and  for  a  part  of  its  length 
is    of  Indian    rubber,  to   give    it 

elasticity.  Fiq.  50.— Knee-pai 

The  Enclosure. — Horses  have  been  trained  by  the 
expert,  on  the  open  ground,  where  soft  and  free  from  stones, 
&c. — or  in  a  barn,  or  bullock  yard,  well  supplied  with 
straw  or  tan, — being  sure  that  there  are  no  beams  or  posts 
against  which  the  horse  or  his  trainer  may  be  hurt.  It  is  far 
preferable  to  have  a  suitable  enclosure  about  30  feet  square, 
the  fence  so  high  that  the  horse  cannot  see  over  it,  and 
the  floor  covered  a  foot  deep  with  straw,  tan,  or  saw-dust. 
It  is  of  importance  that  the  horse  should  see  or  hear  no 
person  or  object  beyond  the  enclosure,  to  distract  his  atten- 
tion. If  the  horse  is  very  vicious,  the  enclosure  may  have 
a  half-door  by  which  a  gradual  acquaintance  with  the 
horse  may  be  formed.  Mr.  Rarey  advises,  that  even  with 
the  worst  horses  but  one  person  should  enter  the  enclosure 
with  the  animal. 

To  Stable  the  Horse, — Mr,  Rarey  gives  some  excel- 
lent hints  for  the  stabling  and  haltering  of  the  colt  or  horse, 
which  it  is  undesirable  to  repeat  here,  but  the  points  to  be 


824 

observed  are : — never  to  frighten  or  run  after  him ;  patiently 
follow  -him  around  the  pasture  or  field  until  he  enters  the 
enclosure  you  intend  for  him,  or  by  leading  a  steady  horse 
into  the  stable  gradually  entice  the  colt  to  follow  ;  do  not 
throw  up  your  arms,  or  halloo  at  him,  but  bj^  gentle 
methods  accomplish  your  object. 

To  APPROACH  THE  HoRSE. — Enter  the  stable  or  enclo- 
sure quietly,  and  if  the  horse  shows  signs  of  fear, 
stand,  at  the  entrance  without  moving  until  he  shows  no 
uneasiness  ;  then  approach  him  a  step  or  two,  and  if  he  is 
again  afraid,  stop  a  few  moments.  Again  step  toward  him, 
stopping  whenever  he  appears  alarmed.  Your  arms  should 
be  stationary,  the  right  hanging  by  your  side,  and  the  left 
hand  projected  -toward  the  horse,  but  not  at  full  length. 
Approach  him  toward  the  shoulder,  and  if  he  moves  a  lit- 
tle forward  or  backward,  step  cautiously  more  to  the  right 
or  left.  AVhen  you  are  within  reach  he  will  turn  his  head 
to  smell  your  hand ;  do  not  move  it  at  first,  but  encourage 
him  to  touch  it  with  his  nose ;  graduallj^  touch  his  head  and 
neck,  stroking  him  the  way  the  hair  lies,  speaking  all  the 
time  in  a  gentle  tone,  repeating  the  same  words  as  ''  Ho ! 
my  boy,"  "  Pretty  boy,"  "  Nice  Lady,"  &c.  The  accustom- 
ing the  horse  from  the  first,  to  the  sound  of  the  voice,  is 
deemed  of  great  importance. 

After  you  have  gentled  your  horse  a  little,  take  your 
halter  in  your  left  hand  and  approach  him  as  before.  After 
again  rubbing  and  soothing  him,  put  the  end  of  the  strap 
around  his  neck,  slowly  get  his  nose  into  the  halter  and 
buckle  it.  The  halter  should  have  a  long  strap  or  rope,  so 
that  if  he  wish  to  walk  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  stable 
he  can  do  so.  Do  not  tug  at  the  halter,  but  gradually 
begin  to  control  him  by  pulling  him  to  one  side  :  never  go 
before  and  attempt  to  pull  him  after  you.  When  he  is 
somewhat  accustomed  to  the  halter,  a  suitable  bridle,  as 


THE   PEOCKSS   ICXPLAINED.  825 

previously  described,  should  be  put  on  him  before  proceed 
ing  further  in  the  process. 

Tying  up  the  Leg. — With  ordinary  horses  this  is  not 
a  difificult  feat,  after  the  preliminary  steps,  but  in  some 
cases  even  Mr.  Rarey  himself  has  taken  two  hours  before 
he  could  accomplish  it.  Soothing,  gentle  means  are  the 
only  ones  to  be  used,  such  as  rubbing  and  handling  the 
legs,  until  you  can  take  up  the  foot  as  if  for  shoeing.  Then 
put  the  noose  of  strap,  Fig.  48,  around  the  left  fore  leg,  just 
below  the  fetlock,  and  draw  it  snug.  Raise  the  foot  and 
pass  the  strap  around  the  fore-arm,  and  buckle  it.  If  the 
horse  is  to  be  laid  down  on  the  left  side,  the  buckle  should 
be  on  the  inside  of  the  leg,  so  that  it  can  be  easily  reached 
when  he  is  down.  You  may  now  handle  or  go  about  your 
horse  with  more  freedom,  as  he  cannot  kick,  and  will  not 
be  able  to  run  very  fast.  It  is  well  to  lead  him  about  for 
some  time,  in  this  condition,  before  proceeding  further. 
Fig.  51  represents  the  horse  at  this  stage  of  the  proceedings. 

Laying  the  Horse  Down. — Next,  the  surcingle  is 
to  be  buckled  on,  and  the  second  strap  is  put  around 
the  right  fore-leg,  below  the  fetlock,  drawing  the  noose 
tightly,  and  passing  the  end  through  the  surcingle, 
as  in  Fig.  51.  The  horse  is  now  made  to  hop,  and  the 
moment  he  moves  his  right  leg  the  strap  is  drawn  tightly, 
so  as  to  bring  the  leg  in  the  same  position  as  the  other. 
Tills  will  cause  him  for  a  moment  to  come  upon  his 
Ivuees,  Yfhen  the  strap  may  have  another  turn  around 
the  surcingle  to  secure  it.  The  struggle  now  com- 
mences. He  rears  on  his  hind  legs,  and  springs  violently 
about,  so  that  some  agility  is  required  to  keep  up  with 
him,  but  you  are  merely  to  follow  him  about,  guiding 
him  as  well  as  you  can,  so  that  he  does  not  injure,  him- 
self, keeping  close  to  his  side,  just  behind  the  shoulder, 
holding  the  bridle  in  the  left  hand,  and  the  end   of  strap 


826  rarey's  horse-taming. 

No.  2  in  tlie  riglit.  See  Fig.  52.  This  demands  more  self- 
possession  than  strength,  as  bojs,  and  even  ladies,  have 
successfully  laid  down  large  horses,  and  few  or  no  serious 
accidents  are  recorded.  The  struggle  rarely  continues 
longer  than  from  five  to  ten  minutes,  and  no  horse  has  been 
known  to  hold  out  for  more  than  fifteen  minutes. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  oppose  the  horse  by  violently 
pulling  on  the  bridle,  but  merely  use  the  reins  to  steer  him 
away  from  the  walls  of  the  enclosure ;  or,  if  he  be  obstinate, 
he  may  be  compelled  to  walk  backwards  until  he  is  tired 
out.  When  he  finally  sinks  forward  on  his  knees  exhausted, 
you  can,  by  pulling  the  off  rein  firmly,  bring  him  over 
upon  his  left  side.  If  he  make  a  second  attempt  at  resist- 
ance, so  much  the  better,  as  his  subjugation  will  be  more 
complete  after  he  gives  up. 

When  completely  subdued  and  upon  his  side,  begin  to 
caress  and  soothe  him,  rubbing  his  head,  neck  and  legs, 
speaking  kindly  to  him  as  you  move  about  him,  and 
he  should  be  repeatedly  stroked  and  handled  wherever 
he  is  disposed  to  be  "•touchy."  Any  articles  he  is  in- 
clined to  fear  may  be  brought  to  him,  and  placed  upon 
him,  such  as  a  Buffalo  robe,  umbrella,  saddle,  or  harness. 
Mount  him  yourself  quietly,  to  convince  him  you  will 
do  him  no  harm.  After  all  resistance  has  ceased,  you 
may  remove  his  straps,  and  continue  the  rubbing  and 
your  soothing  attentions.  If  he  attempt  to  rise,  you  may 
hold  him  down  by  the  head,  or  by  doubling  up  a  fore 
leg,  as  at  first,  but  if  he  is  too  quick  for  you,  do  not  con- 
tend with  him,  but  let  him  rise,  and  again  tie  his  feet, 
and  Iny  him  down.  After  working  with  him  thus  for 
an  hour,  encourage  him  to  rise,  and,  after  an  interval  of 
a  few  hours,  repeat  the  lesson ;  indeed,  two  or  three  les- 
sons per  day  may  be  advantageously  given  to  an  obstinate 
animal.      After  each,  and  whenever  he  shows  submission, 


VICES   AND   BAD   HABITS.  827 

reward  him  by  caresses,  soothing  words,  or  a  lock  of  hay. 
This  wins  for  you  his  gratitude  and  affection,  and  with  a 
little  pains,  he  will  readily  follow  you  and  obey  your  call. 

VICES   AND   BAD    HABITS. 

Bearing. — This  is  a  vice  which  is  not  very  common,  at 
least  in  a  dangerous  form.  It  can  generally  be  prevented 
by  the  use  of  the  martingale. 

Another  good  preventive,  in  the  case  of  saddle-horses, 
is,  when  the  horse  is  about  to  rise,  to  touch  him  with  the 
spur,  on  one  side  only ;  this  will  cause  him  to  stop  to  lift 
the  hind  leg  on  that  side,  and  if  he  persists  in  his  attempt 
the  spurs  may  be  used  vigorously,  first  on  one  side,  and 
then  on  the  other,  but  not  so  fast  as  to  prevent  the  horse 
from  raising  his  hind  legs  alternately,  as  he  is  spurred. 
The  least  touch  of  the  curb  bit  will  cause  some  vicious  and 
badly  trained  horses  to  rear,  while  those  which  have  been 
thoroughly  trained,  as  by  the  system  of  Baucher,  will  rear 
slightly,  to  a  great  height,  or  not  at  all,  as  their  rider  may 
desire ;  but  it  is  obvious  that  horses  so  delicately  trained 
should  not  be  ridden  by  unskilful  persons,  lest  the  awk- 
wardness of  the  rider  should  cause  unexpected  curveting. 

Kicking. — It  is  impossible  for  a  horse  to  kick,  while 
one  of  his  fore  legs  is  strapped  up,  as  we  have  described ; 
and  if  a  horse  has  the  habit  of  kicking  in  harness,  he 
may  be  driven  a  few  times  with  only  three  legs  to  walk 
on.  -We  may,  after  that,  have  a  strap,  long  enough  to 
reach  to  the  hand  when  in  the  wagon,  fastened  around 
the  pastern  of  the  near  side  fore  leg,  and  passing  through 
a  ring  in  the  harness.  We  now  drive  the  horse  slowly^ 
and,  at  the  first  laying  back  of  the  ears,  jerk  up  the  foot, 
and  leave  him  powerless  to  kick.  In  this  manner  this 
worst  of  all  vices,  in  harness  horses,  may  be  effectually  and 
permanently  cured. 


328 

Pulling  Back  on  the  Halter. — This  is  a  vice  whicL 
has  probably  arisen  from  the  horse  having,  at  some  time, 
broken  a  weak  halter  in  a  fit  of  impatience.  The  only  safe 
cure  for  it,  and  this  is  not  always  successful,  is  to  tie  the 
horse  with  a  very  strong  halter,  which  it  will  be  impossible 
for  him  to  break;  finding  that  his  efforts  are  futile,  he 
will,  after  a  time,  usually  desist  from  pulling, — though 
some  incorrigible  brutes  will  try  every  new  halter  as  soon 
as  they  are  fastened,  and  will  break  it  if  possible. 

Shying  is  a  most  dangerous  vice,  the  treatment  of  which 
is  thus  described  by  Stonehenge  : 

Shying  is  sometimes  the  effect  of  fear,  and  sometimes 
of  vice ;  and  there  are  many  horses  which  begin  by  the 
former  and  end  with  the  latter,  in  consequence  of  misman- 
agement. The  young  colt  is  almost  always  more  or  less 
shy,  especially  if  he  is  brought  at  once  from  the  retired 
fields  where  he  was  reared,  to  the  streets  of  a  busy  town. 
There  are,  however,  numberless  varieties  of  shyers,  some 
being  dreadfully  alarmed  by  one  kind  of  object,  which  to 
another  is  not  at  all  formidable.  When  a  horse  finds  that  he 
gains  his  object  by  turning  round,  he  will  often  repeat  the 
turning  without  cause,  pretending  to  be  alarmed,  and 
looking  out  for  excuses  for  it.  This  is  not  at  all  uncommon, 
and  with  timid  riders  leads  to  a  discontinuance  of  the  ride, 
by  which  the  horse  gains  his  end  for  the  time,  and  repeats 
the  trick  on  the  first  occasion.  In  genuine  shjdng  from 
fear,  the  eyes  are  generall}^  more  or  less  defective ;  but 
sometimes  this  is  not  the  cause,  which  is  founded  upon  a 
general  irritability  of  the  nervous  .system.  Thus,  there 
are  many  which  never  shy  at  meeting  wagons,  or  other 
similar  objects,  but  which  almost  drop  with  fear  on  a  small 
bird  flying  out  of  a  hedge,  or  any  other  startling  sound. 
These  are  also  worse,  because  they  give  no  notice,  whereas 


1 


Fiff.   54. 


VICES   AND  BAD   HABITS.  O'Z'd 

the  ordinary  shyer  almost  always  shows  by  his  ears  that 
he  is  prepared  to  turn. 

For  shyers  the  only  remedy  is,  to  take  as  little  notice 
as  possible,  to  make  light  of  the  occurrence,  speak  encour- 
agingly, yet  rather  severely,  and  to  get  them  hy  the  object 
somehow  or  other.  If  needful,  the  aid  of  the  spur  and 
whip  may  be  called  in,  but  not  as  a  punishment.  If  the 
horse  can  be  urged  to  go  by  the  object  at  which  he  is  shying 
without  the  w:hip  or  spur,  so  much  the  better;  but  if  not,  he 
must  be  compelled  to  do  so  by  their  use.  Whenever  fear 
is  the  cause  of  shying,  punishment  only  adds  to  that  fear 
but  where  vice  has  supplanted  fear,  severity  should  be 
used  to  correct  it.  As  a  general  rule  the  whip  need  never 
be  used,  unless  the  horse  turns  absolutely  round,  and  not 
then  unless  there  is  reason  to  suspect  that  he  is  pretending 
fear.  If  only  he  will  go  by  the  object,  even  \^\\h  '  a  wide 
berth,'  as  the  sailors  say,  he  may  be  suffered  to  go  on  his 
way  unpunished;  and  nothing  is  so  bad  as  the  absurd 
severity  which  some  horsemen  exercise  after  the  horse  has 
conquered  his  reluctance,  and  passed  the  object.  At  this 
time  he  should  be  praised  and  patted,  with  all  the  encour- 
agement which  can  be  given ;  and  on  no  account  should 
he  be  taught  to  make  those  rushes  which  we  so  commonly 
see  on  the  road,  from  the  improper  use  of  the  whip  and 
spur.  If  punishment  is  necessary  at  all,  it  must  be  used 
beforehand;  but  it  often  happens  that  the  rider  cannot 
spare  his  whip-hand  until  the  shying  is  over  ;  and  then,  in 
his  passion,  he  does  not  reflect  that  the  time  is  gone  by  for 
its  employment. 

Baulking  or  Jibbing. — On  this  subject,  Mr.  Earey 
writes  as  follows :  When  your  horse  baulks,  or  is  a  little 
excited,  if  he  wants  to  start  quickly,  or  looks  around 
and  doesn't  want  to  go,  there  is  something  wrong, 
and  he  needs  kind  treatment  immediately.      Caress  him 


300 

kiiidlj,  and  if  lie  doesn't  understand  at  once  what  jou 
want  him  to  do,  he  will  not  be  so  much  excited  as  to  jump 
and  break  things,  and  do  everything  wrong  through  fear. 
As  long  as  you  are  calm,  and  keep  down  the  excitement 
of  the  horse,  there  are  ten  chances  that  you  will  make  him 
understand  you,  where  there  would  not  be  one  under  harsh 
treatment  ;  and  then  the  little  flare  up  will  not  carry  with 
it  any  unfavorable  recollections,  and  be  will  soon  forget  all 
about  it,  and  learn  to  pull  trulj^.  Almost  every  wrong  act 
the  horse  commits  is  from  mismanagement,  fear,  or  excite- 
ment :  one  harsh  word  will  so  excite  a  nervous  horse  as  to 
increase  his  pulse  ten  beats  in  a  minute. 

When  we  remember  that  we  are  dealing  with  dumb 
brutes,  and  reflect  how  difficult  it  must  be  for  them  to  un- 
derstand our  motions,  signs,  and  language,  we  should 
never  get  out  of  patience  with  them  because  they  don't 
understand  us,  or  wonder  at  their  doing  things  wrong. 
With  all  our  intellect,  if  we  were  placed  in  the  horse's 
situation,  it  would  be  difficult  for  us  to  understand  the 
driving  of  some  foreigner,  of  foreign  ways  and  foreign  lan- 
guage. We  should  always  recollect  that  our  ways  and 
language  are  just  as  foreign  and  unknown  to  the  horse  as 
any  language  in  the  world  is  to  us,  and  should  try  to  prac- 
tise what  we  could  understand,  were  we  the  horse,  endeav- 
oring by  some  simple  means  to  work  on  his  understanding 
rather  than  on  the  different  parts  of  his  body.  All  baulked 
horses  can  be  started  true  and  stead}^  in  a  few  minutes' 
time:  they  are  all  willing  to  pull  as  soon  as  they  know 
how,  and  I  never  yet  found  a  baulked  horse  that  I  could 
not  teach  to  start  his  load  in  fifteen,  and  often  less  than 
three,  minutes'  time. 

Almost  any  team,  when  first  baulked,  will  start  kindly, 
if  you  let  them  stand  five  or  ten  minutes,  as  though  there 
was  nothing  wrong,  and  then  speak  to  them  with  a  steady 


VICES   AND   BAD   HABITS.  831 

voice,  and  turn  tliem  a  little  to  tlie  right  or  left,  so  as  to 
get  them  both  in  motion  before  they  feel  the  pinch  of  the 
load.  But  if  you  want  to  start  a  team  that  you  are  not 
driving  yourself,  that  has  been  baulked,  fooled,  and  \vhi]> 
ped  for  some  time,  go  to  them  and  hang  the  lines  on  their 
hames,  or  fasten  them  to  the  wagon,  so  that  they  will  be 
perfectly  loose ;  make  the  driver  and  spectators  (if  there 
are  any)  stand  off  some  distance  to  one  side,  so  as  not  to 
attract  the  attention  of  the  horses ;  unloose  their  check- 
reins,  so  that  they  can  get  their  heads  down  if  they 
choose ;  let  them  stand  a  few  minutes  in  this  condition 
until  you  can  see  that  they  are  a  little  composed.  While 
they  are  standing,  you  should  be  about  their  heads,  gent- 
ling them :  it  will  make  them  a  little  more  kind,  and  the 
spectators  will  think  that  you  are  doing  something  that 
they  do  not  understand,  and  will  not  learn  the  secret. 
When  you  have  them  ready  to  start,  stand  before  them, 
and,  as  you  seldom  have  but  one  baulky  horse  in  a  team, 
get  as  near  in  front  of  him  as  you  can,  and,  if  he  is  too  fast 
for  the  other  horse,  let  his  nose  come  against  your  breast ; 
this  will  keep  him  steady,  for  he  will  go  slow  rather  than 
run  on  you.  Turn  them  gently  to  the  right,  without 
letting  them  pull  on  the  traces  as  far  as  the  tongue  will  let 
them  go ;  stop  them  with  a  kind  word,  gentle  them  a  little, 
and  then  turn  them  back  to  the  left,  by  the  same  process. 
You  will  then  have  them  under  your  control  by  this  time ; 
and  as  you  turn  them  again  to  the  right,  steady  them  in 
the  collar,  and  you  can  take  them  where  you  please. 

There  is  a  quicker  process  that  will  generally  start  a 
baulky  horse,  but  not  so  sure.  Stand  him  a  little  ahead, 
so  that  his  shoulders  will  be  against  the  collar,  and  then 
take  up  one  of  his  fore  feet  in  jonv  hand,  and  let  the  driver 
start  them,  and  when  the  weight  comes  against  his  shoul- 
ders he  will  try  to  step  ;  then  let  him  have  his  foot,  and  he 


332  rarey's  horse-taming. 

will  go  right  along.  If  you  want  to  break  a  horse  from 
baulking  that  has  long  been  in  that  habit,  you  ought  to 
set  apart  a  half-day  for  that  purpose.  Put  him  by  the  side 
of  some  steady  horse ;  have  driving  reins  on  them ;  tie  up 
all  the  traces  and  straps,  so  that  there  will  be  nothing  to 
excite  them ;  do  not  rein  tliem  up,  but  let  them  have  their 
he.cids  loose.  Walk  them  about  together  for  some  time  as 
slowly  and  lazily  as  possible ;  stop  often,  and  go  up  to 
your  baulky  horse  and  gentle  him.  Do  not  take  any  whip 
about  him,  or  do  anything  to  excite  him,  but  keep  him 
just  as  quiet  as  you  can.  He  will  soon  learn  to  start  off 
at  the  word,  and  stop  whenever  you  tell  him. 

As  soon  as  he  performs  rightly,  hitch  him  in  an  empty 
wagon  ;  have  it  standing  in  a  favorable  position  for  start- 
ing. It  would  be  well  to  shorten  the  trace-chain  behind 
the  steady  horse,  so  that,  if  it  is  necessary,  he  can  take  the 
weight  of  the  wagon  the  first  time  you  start  them.  Do 
not  drive  more  than  a  few  rods  at  first ;  watch  your  jibbing 
horse  closely,  and  if  you  see  that  he  is  getting  excited,  stop 
him  before  he  stops  of  his  own  accord,  caress  him  a  little, 
and  start  again.  As  soon  as  they  go  well,  drive  them  over 
a  small  hill  a  few  times,  and  then  over  a  larger  one,  occa- 
sionally adding  a  little  load.  This  process  will  make  any 
horse  true  to  pull. 


CHAPTER    XXI 


BACIKG. 


TRAINING  FOR  THE  RACE — THE  STABLES — FEEDING  AND  EXERCISE — LAWS  OP 
RACING — TABLE   OF   WEIGHTS   FOR   AGES — HANDICAPPING. 

By  Racing,  in  the  proper  acceptation  of  the  term,  is  meant 
a  trial  of  speed  between  running  horses.  Match-trotting, 
although  more  in  vogue  in  this  country,  is  less  intimately 
connected  with  the  science  of  breeding  horses,  which  it  is 
one  of  the  objects  of  this  work  to  discuss. 

With  the  moral  bearing  of  the  subject  of  horse-racing 
we  have  nothing  to  do.  It  is  used  as  a  means  for  im- 
proving the  breed  of  horses,  and  this  result  is  certainly 
attained,  for  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  more  capital  is  de- 
voted, and  more  attention  given,  to  the  raising  of  thorough- 
bred horses  than  could  be  expected  to  take  this  channel  if 
no  such  remunerative  market  for  fine  horses  existed.  It 
is  true  that  the  thorough-bred  horse  is  frequently  of  but 
very  little  practical  use  for  anything  but  racing  and  breed- 
ing, but  as  a  getter  of  horses  for  all  kinds  of  ordinary 
work,  whether  for  the  saddle  or  harness,  he  is  not  only 
unequalled,  but  almost  indispensable,  since  without  him 
we  could  not  have  for  any  kind  of  work  so  good  an  animal 
as  it  is  possible  to  get  by  an  infusion  of  thorough  blood. 
Even  if  it  were  probable  that  thorough-bred  horses  would 

[333] 


834  RACING. 

be  raised  in  perfection  without  the  stimulus  of  racing,  there 
would  be  no  means  for  ascertaining  which  of  them  was 
the  best  for  transmitting  the  two  important  qualities  of 
speed  and  bottom  (or  endurance) ;  no  other  test  would  so 
fully  make  known  these  qualities. 

To  give  the  reader  an  idea  of  the  manner  in  which  horses 
are  trained  for  racing,  and  of  the  management  of  the  race 
itself,  we  condense  the  following  account  from  the  best 
writers  on  the  subject,  in  England,  (where  horse-racing  is 
a  national  pastime,  Parliament  adjourning  on  the  day  of 
the  great  Derby  race  at  Epsom,)  and  from  the  rules  of  the 
English  "Jockey  Club."  A  careful  study  of  the  manner 
in  which  horses  are  trained  for  racing  cannot  fail  to  give 
some  valuable  suggestions  as  to  keeping  working  and 
pleasure  horses  in  a  proper  condition  for  the  performance 
of  their  labor. 

Traiyiing- stables  are  necessarily  located  near  a  good 
piece  of  ground  upon  which  to  exercise  the  horses.  This 
should  be,  if  possible,  of  such  a  character  that  it  will  never 
get  either  very  soft  in  wet,  nor  very  hard  in  dry  weather. 
A  piece  of  deep  old  turf,  on  land  which  is  thoroughly 
well  drained,  either  naturally  or  artificially,  is  best  for  the 
purpose.  The  stables  themselves  should  be  roomy,  and 
well  ventilated ;  and  it  is  desirable  to  have  them  rather 
dark  than  light,  as  the  horses  get  the  necessary  amount  of 
light  in  taking  their  exercise,  and  as  they  will  be  more 
ready  to  take  their  feed,  and  to  rest  themselves  after  hard 
work,  in  tolerably  dark  stables.  The  best  form  for  the 
stable  is  probably  a  compromise  between  stalls  and  loose 
boxes  which  keep  their  inmates  entirely  secluded, — that 
is,  large  stalls,  about  ten  feet  in  length  and  six  feet  in 
width,  closed  at  the  rear  with  a  door  which  can  be  locked, 
when  it  is  desirable  to  allow  the  horse  to  move  about 
at  pleasure  in  his  apartment,  and  boarded  up  only  to  a 


TRAINING-STABLES.  335 

height  of  six  feet ;  the  remaining  space,  from  the  top  of 
the  partition  to  the  ceiling,  which  should  be  from  ten  to 
twelve  feet  from  the  floor,  being  supplied  with  iron  bars, 
which  will  allow  the  horses  to  see  each  other ;  and  which 
will  make  the  stable  generally  warmer  in  winter,  and 
allow  a  better  circulation  of  air  in  summer.  A  cheap 
arrangement  of  shutters,  to  entirely  close  up  the  barred 
space,  will  confine  the  heat  to  the  stables  which  are 
occupied. 

Training  establishments  are  usually  supplied  with  sad- 
dles, of  various  forms,  weights,  and  sizes ;  bridles ;  bits,  of 
every  form;  rollers,  straps,  knee-caps  and  boots,  and 
clothing  in  every  conceivable  variety ;  also  with  the  simpler 
remedies  for  the  ordinary  ailments  of  horses  in  training. 
Before  the  training  commences  the  horse  should  be  ex- 
amined as  to  his  health,  form,  and  temper,  as  well  as  to 
his  pedigree.  This  examination  is  one  of  the  most  respon- 
sible duties  of  the  trainer,  and  its  object  is  to  put  him  in 
possession  of  as  many  facts  as  possible  as  to  the  points  of 
strength  and  weakness  of  the  horse,  whether  acquired  or 
inherited.  By  the  deductions  therefrom  made,  he  decides 
in  what  way  it  is  best  to  treat  his  subject  so  as  to  develope 
his  powers,  with  the  least  risk  of  injuring  his  health  or 
disposition.  The  average  length  of  time  required  for 
training  is  about  six  months,  during  which  the  horse  un- 
dergoes three  different  stages  of  treatment,  the  object  being 
to  remove  all  unnecessary  fat  from  the  external  and  in- 
ternal parts  of  the  body,  to  put  the  heart  and  lungs  in 
the  best  condition  for  the  performance  of  their  functions, 
and  to  give,  by  means  of  exercise  and  nutritious  food,  the 
greatest  possible  amount  of  strength  and  endurance. 

The  first  preparation,  as  far  as  exercise  is  concerned, 
consists  mainly  of  walking,  which  removes  excess  of  fat, 
and  gives  hardness  and  endurance  to  the  legs.     After  it 


336  KACING. 

has  been  continued  for  from  two  to  four  weeks,  according 
to  tlie  condition  of  the  horse,  he  has  his  first  sweaty  which  is 
given  by  galloping  him  moderatel}^,  under  heavy  clothing  ; 
if  it  be  desirable  to  greatly  reduce  any  part  of  the  body 
in  particular,  as,  for  instance,  the  neck  or  shoulders,  these 
parts  are  more  heavily  laden  with  blankets  than  the  rest 
of  the  body.  Immediately  after  the  perspiration  has  be- 
gun to  flow  freely,  the  horse  should  be  well  scraped,  and 
then  rubbed  dry,  by  four  boys  working  as  rapidly  as  pos- 
sible. During  the  first  preparation  an  occasional  short 
gallop  is  allowed,  to  vary  the  monotony  of  the  work,  but 
it  must  be  only  a  very  gentle  one ;  and  toward  the  last 
these  may  be  somewhat  increased,  if  the  horse  is  evidently 
in  condition  to  bear  the  extra  work  without  being  put 
back  in  his  training.  The  sweats  are  continued  at  inter- 
vals during  the  whole  time  of  the  first  preparation,  this 
matter  being  decided  by  the  trainer  from  his  knowledge 
of  the  character  of  the  horse.  Light  doses  of  physic  are 
also  given,  from  time  to  time,  as  they  may  be  required. 

During  the  second  preparation,  the  feed,  which  was 
eight  quarts  of  oats  per  day  at  first,  is  raised  to  ten  quarts ; 
the  sweats  are  more  frequent,  and  the  gallops  are  more 
frequent  and  more  severe,  the  object  being  to  improve  the 
wind  as  well  as  the  legs  and  muscles. 

In  the  third  or  final  preparation,  the  work  is  made  more 
severe,  the  feeding  is  managed  with  the  utmost  care,  being 
small  in  quantity  and  highly  nutritious.  The  water,  as 
well  as  oats  and  hay  (all  of  which  must  be  of  the  very  best 
quality),  should  be  given  in  such  a  way  as  to  produce  the 
best  results. 

The  stable  must  at  all  times  be  kept  scrupulously  clean. 
Every  circumstance  which  can  possibly  have  an  influence 
on  the  condition  of  the  horse  is  taken  into  the  account, 
0.11(1  fdtlifuUv  roQ-arded.     The  sweats,   at  fir.st,   are  fj^ross 


LAWS  OF  RACING.  337 

and  lathery,  but  towards  the  last  they  are  little  more  than 
water.  From  this  fact  the  progress  of  the  horse's  training 
may  be  approximately  ascertained.  The  legs  are  hand- 
rubbed,  at  least  fifteen  minutes  each,  every  day. 

During  the  whole  time  of  training  there  is  a  great  lia- 
bility to  all  manner  of  accidents  and  diseases,  and  the 
trainer  finds,  in  the  treatment  of  such  cases,  no  small  part 
of  his  labor,  while  nothing  can  be  more  vexatious  than  to 
see  a  horse,  whose  final  preparation  is  in  the  full  tide  of 
successful  experiment,  thrown  out  of  the  race  by  a  casu- 
alty, such  as  "breaking  down,"  or  "Curb." 

LAWS  OF  RACIt^G. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  rules  of  the  Jockey  Club 
of  England : — 

"  The  Age  of  all  horses  is  taken  from  the  1st  of  Jan- 
uary. 

"  In  Catch  Weights  any  person  can  ride  without  going 
to  scale.  A  Feather  Weight  is  defined  to  be  4  stone, 
but  the  usual  declaration  must  be  made  if  the  jockey  in- 
tends to  ride  more  than  that  weight. 

"  A  Maiden  horse  or  mare  is  one  that  has  never  won. 
An  Untried  stallion  or  mare  is  one  whose  produce  has 
never  started  in  public. 

"  Jockeys  Must  Kide  their  horses  to  the  usual  place  of 
weighing,  and  he  that  dismounts  beforehand,  or  wants 
weight,  is  distanced,  unless  he  is  disabled  by  accident,  in 
which  case  he  may  be  led  or  carried  to  the  scale.  If  a 
jockey  fall  from  his  horse,  and  the  horse  be  rode  in  firom 
the  place  where  the  rider  fell  by  a  person  of  sufficient 
weight,  he  may  take  his  place  the  same  as  if  the  rider  had 
not  fallen.  (At  Newmarket,  jockeys  are  required  to  weigh 
before  as  well  as  after  the  race.) 

"  Every  Jockey  is  Allowed  2  lbs.  above  the  weight 
15 


838  BACING. 

specified  for  his  horse ;  but  should  any  horse  carry  more 
ihan  2  lbs.  above  his  weight  without  having  declared  it, 
he  will  be  considered  distanced,  although  he  came  in  first. 

"  Heats. — For  the  best  of  the  plate,  when  three  heats  are 
run,  the  horse  is  second  which  wins  one  heat.  For  the  best 
of  the  heats,  the  horse  is  second  that  beats  the  other  horse 
twice  out  of  three  times  though  he  do  not  win  a  heat.  When 
a  plate  is  won  by  two  heats,  the  preference  of  the  horses  is 
determined  by  the  second  heat.  When  a  plate  is  given  to 
the  winner  of  the  best  of  three  heats,  a  horse  must  be  the 
actual  winner  of  two  heats,  even  though  no  horse  appear 
against  him  for  both  or  either  of  the  heats.  When  three 
horses  have  each  won  a  heat,  they  only  must  start  for  a 
fourth.  In  running  heats,  a  dead  heat  goes  for  nothing, 
and  all  the  horses  may  start  again,  unless  it  be  between 
two  horses  that  had  each  won  a  heat.  Horses  drawn  be- 
fore the  plate  is  won  are  distanced.  No  distance  in  a 
fourth  heat. 

"  False  Description". — JSTo  horse  will  be  deemed  the 
winner  of  any  race  which  shall  be  proved  to  have  run 
under  a  false  description ;  the  disqualification  to  remain  in 
force  until  his  pedigree  be  ascertained  and  recorded.  No 
objection  can  be  made  after  the  lapse  of  twelve  months 
from  the  time  of  running. 

"  Allowance  of  Weight  to  the  produce  of  untried 
horses  or  mares  must  be  claimed  at  the  time  of  running. 
Extra  weight  and  allowances  for  not  winning  are  not  ac- 
cumulative unless  particularly  specified.  Extra  weights 
for  running  are  enforced  up  to  the  time  of  running. 

"  Fictitious  Name. — When  any  person  enters  a  horse 
or  subscribes,  under  a  fictitious  name,  or  in  the  name  of  a 
person  not  fully  identified  at  the  time,  he  will  be  considered 
in  all  respects  as  the  owner  of  the  horse,  and  as  the  sub- 
scriber to  the  stake.     The  stewards  of  the  Jockey  Club 


LAWS   OF   RACING.  339 

have  power  to  call  upon  a  nominator  to  produce  testimony 
tliat  the  horse  named  is  not  the  property,  either  wholly  or 
in  part,  of  any  person  whose  name  appears  in  the  list  of 
defaulters;  and  if  he  fail  to  do  so,  they  may  cause  the 
nomination  to  be  erased. 

"  Examination  of  Mouth. — When  the  age  or  qualifi- 
cation of  a  horse  is  objected  to,  either  before  or  after  run- 
ning, the  stewards  have  power  to  order  the  examination 
of  the  horse's  mouth,  by  competent  persons,  and  to  call  for 
such  evidence  as  they  may  require,  and  their  decision  is 
final.  The  person  requiring  the  horse's  mouth  to  be  ex- 
amined, at  Newmarket,  must  pay  the  expenses  of  such  ex- 
amination, unless  it  should  prove  that  the  horse  is  of  the 
wrong  age,  in  which  case  the  Jockey  Club  will  pay  it. 

"  Fraudulent  Owners,  &c. — If  a  horse  shall  run,  or  be 
brought  to  run,  for  any  race,  in  England  or  elsewhere,  and 
shall  be  proved  not  to  be  of  the  age  represented,  the  Jockey 
Club  have  power  to  disqualify  for  ever  the  owner,  or  part 
owner,  trainer,  groom,  or  person  having  the  care  of  such 
horse  at  the  time,  from  running  or  training  any  horse 
where  the  rules  of  the  Jockey  Club  apply,  and  from  being 
employed  by  any  member  of  the  Club.  And  any  horse 
thus  fraudulently  entered  or  run,  is  for  ever  disqualified 
for  running  in  any  race  whatever. 

''Non-payment  of  Stakes. — Ko  person  can  start  a 
horse  for  any  race,  either  in  his  own  name  or  that  of  any 
other  person,  unless  both  the  owner  and  namer  shall  have 
paid  all  former  stakes  and  forfeits  before  the  time  fixed  for 
starting  for  the  first  race.  This  rule  extends  to  forfeits  due 
elsewhere  than  at  Kewmarket,  provided  a  notice  of  them 
be  delivered  by  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening  preceding  the 
day  of  running. 

*'  Defaulters. — No  person  in  arrear  for  stakes  or  for- 
feits, after  application  for  payment,  and  no  person  note- 


810  RACING. 

riouslj  a  defaulter  in  respect  of  bets,  can  enter  and  run  in 
his  own  name,  or  in  that  of  any  other  person,  any  horse  of 
which  he  is  wholly  or  in  part  owner.  And  to  prevent  any 
evasion  of  this  rule,  the  stewards  have  power  to  call  upon 
the  nominator  to  procure  satisfactory  testimony  that  such 
is  not  the  case,  and  on  failure  of  such  proof  may  cause  the 
nomination  to  be  erased ;  and  the  nominator  v/ill  be  held 
liable  for  the  stakes  or  forfeits  thereon.  And  no  horse 
trained  by  any  groom  or  person  thus  in  default,  or  in  any 
way  under  the  care  of  a  person  in  default,  will  be  per- 
mitted to  start.  Should  any  horse,  coming  under  the 
above  regulations,  be  mistakingly  permitted  to  start,  he 
will  not  be  considered  a  winner,  though  he  should  come 
in  first;  and  the  subscriber  will  have  to  pay  the  whole 
stake,  as  for  a  beaten  horse.  (This  rule  does  not  apply  at 
Newmarket,  but  at  most  of  the  principal  races  elsewhere.) 

"  Liabilities  of  Sellers  and  Purchasers. — When  a 
horse  is  sold  with  his  engagements,  the  seller  has  not  the 
power  of  striking  the  horse  out ;  but,  as  the  original  sub- 
scriber remains  liable  for  the  forfeits,  he  may,  if  compelled 
to  pay  them,  place  them  on  the  forfeit-list,  as  due  from 
the  purchaser  to  himself;  and  both  the  purchaser  and  the 
horse  remain  under  the  same  disabilities  as  if  the  pur- 
chaser had  been  ^' the  original  subscriber.  In  all  cases  of 
private  sale  the  written  acknowledgment  of  both  parties 
that  the  horse  was  sold  with  the  engagement  is  necessary 
to  entitle  either  buyer  or  seller  to  the  benefit  of  this  rule. 

"  Forfeits  may  be  Paid. — When  a  person  has  a  horse 
engaged  in  the  name  of  another  party,  who  may  be  on  the 
list  of  defaulters,  he  may,  if  he  pay  this  forfeit,  start  his 
horse,  leaving  the  forfeit  on  the  list,  and  substituting  his 
own  name  for  that  of  the  person  to  whom  it  was  pre 
viously  due.  He  may  take  the  same  course  in  respect  to 
forfeits  not  on  the  list. 


TABLE   OF   WEIGHTS. 


341 


^'  Non-Declaration"  of  Forfeits. — When  a  person 
takes  a  nomination  for  a  stake,  in  which  the  forfeit  is  to  be 
declared  by  a  particular  time,  and  does  not  declare  forfeit 
by  the  time  fixed,  he  takes  the  engagement  on  himself, 
and  his  name  will  be  substituted  for  that  of  the  original 
subscriber." 

The  following  is  Admiral  Rous'  scale  of  standard 
weights  for  ages : — 


HALF 

A  MILE. 

Age. 

April  1. 

May  1 

June  1. 

St.  lb. 
5  12 

7  10 

8  7 
8  7^ 

July  1. 

Aug.  1. 

■Sept.  1. 

Oct.  1. 

Nov.  1. 

Years. 

2 

3 

4 

5,  6,  and  a. 

St.   lb. 
5     2 

7  5 

8  7 
8     9 

St.    lb. 
5     7 

7  7^ 

8  7 
8     8 

St.    lb. 

6  1 

7  13 

8  7 
8     7 

St.    lb. 
6     3 

8     0 

8     7 
8     7 

St.    lb. 
6     5 

8     1 

8     7 
8     7 

St.    lb. 
6     7 

8   n 

8     7" 
8     7 

St.   ib. 
6     8 
8     2 

8     7 
8     7 

T.  Y.  C,  OR  SIX  FURLONGS. 


2 

4     9 

4  13 

5     3 

5     6 

5     8 

5  10 

5  12 

6     0 

3 

7     2 

7     4 

7     6 

7     7i 

7     9 

7  10 

7  11 

7   12 

4 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

6,6, 

and  a. 

8   13 

8   12 

8   Hi 

8  11 

8  lOi 

8  10 

8     9 

8     8 

ONE 

MILE. 

2 

4     2 

4     4 

4     7 

4  10 

4  13 

5     2 

5     4 

5     5 

3 

6  12 

6  13 

7     1 

7     4 

7     6 

7     7 

7     8 

7     9 

4 

8     1 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

5 

9     0 

8   134 

8  13 

8  12. \ 

8  12 

8   HI 

8  11 

8  10 

6  and  a. 

9     1 

9     0 

8  13.^ 

8  13 

8  12 

8  11.^ 

8  11 

8  10 

TWO  MILES 

2 

0     0 

0     0 

0     0 

0     0 

4     2 

4     7 

4     9 

4  11 

3 

6     3 

6     7 

6  12 

7     0 

7     2 

7     5 

7     6 

7     7 

4 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

5 

9     2 

9     U 

9     1 

9     O.J 

9     0 

8  13 

8  12 

8  llj 

6  and  a. 

9     5.^ 

9     5 

9      3}r 

9     3 

9     2 

9     1^ 

8  13 

8  12 

THREE  MILES. 


2 

0     0 

0     0 

0     0 

0     0 

0     0 

0     0 

4     0 

4     4 

3 

6     0 

6     4 

6     8 

6  11 

6  IS 

7     0 

7     2 

7     4 

4 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

5 

9     4 

9     3 

9     2 

9     U 

9     1 

9     OJ 

9     0 

9     0 

Cauda. 

9     8 

9     6^ 

9     6 

9     5 

9     4 

9     3 

9     2 

9     1 

842 


RACING. 


FOUR  MILES. 

3 

5  10 

6     0 

6     4 

6     7 

6     9 

6  ]0^- 

t)  12 

7      0 

4 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

8     7 

5 

9     6 

9     5 

9     4 

9     3 

9      2; 

9     2 

9     IJ 

9     1 

6 

9   11 

9     9 

9     8.1- 

9     7 

9     6 

9     5 

9     4 

9     4 

aged 

9  13 

9  10 

9     9 

9     7 

9     6 

9     5 

9     4 

9     4 

Mares  to  be  allowed  5  lb.  from  April  to  June  1st;  3  lb.  from  June  1st  to 
September  1st:  2  lb.  from  September  1st  to  November.  Geldings  allowed 
3  lb.  throughout  the  year. 

The  stone  is  14  lbs. 


HANDICAPPING. 

By  handicapping  is  meant  an  adjustment  to  the  dif- 
ferent horses  entered  for  a  race  of  such  different  weights 
as  will  equalize  their  powers,  and  give  them  all  equal 
chances  for  winning  the  race.  The  person  who  makes  the 
adjustment  is  called  the  "handicapper,"  and  it  is  his  duty 
to  inform  himself  of  the  character  of  each  horse,  of  the 
running  that  he  has  previously  made,  of  his  age,  and  in 
short  of  every  circumstance  which  can  effect  his  running 
in  the  race  in  view. 

Although  very  much  in  vogue,  it  is  a  system  which 
encourages  more  dishonesty  than  any  other  connected  with 
the  turf,  inasmuch  as  it  offers  a  premium  for  fraud,  by 
making  it  appear,  to  the  "  handicapper,"  at  least,  that  one's 
horse  is  a  poor  one,  when  he  is  quite  the  reverse.  The 
means  by  which  this  is  accomplished  are  as  many  and 
as  dishonorable  as  they  are  notorious.  A  horse  will,  at 
times,  be  made  to  lose  every  race  for  a  whole  season,  in 
order  that  in  a  "  handicap"  race,  for  which  he  is  being  pre- 
pared, he  may  be  weighted  as  lightly  as  possible,  and  that 
then,  with  the  extra  power  which  has  been  kept  in  abey- 
ance, he  may  easily  win  a  prize  which  repays  ten-fold  the 
losses  of  the  early  part  of  the  season.  The  whole  system 
has  done  more  to  bring  discredit  on  the  racing  of  horses 


HANDICAPPING.  843 

than  any  tiling  else  connected  with  it,  especially  in  Eng- 
land, where  handicapping  is  much  more  general  than  in 
this  country.  Without  it,  it  is  possible  to  make  horse- 
racing  respectable ;  with  it,  it  will  be  more  difficult  than 
ever  to  divorce  it  from  the  fraud  and  rascality  which  it  is 
said  to  foster. 

The  speed  of  the  best  race-horses  is  from  13^  to  14 
seconds  per  furlong,  or  from  1  m.  48  s.  to  1  m.  52  s.  per 
mile. 


CHAPTER    XXII. 


VETERINARY    HOMCEOPATHY. 


The  homcbopathic  treatment  of  disease  is  based  on  the 
discovery  of  Hahnemann,  and  its  fundamental  principle  is  : 

"  In  order  to  cure  a  disease,  select  such  a  remedy  as  is 
capable  of  producing  a  similar  malady  in  a  healthy  person, 
and  of  such  a  remedy  prescribe  only  a  small  dose." 

Without  any  discussion  as  to  the  truth  of  this  theory, 
there  is  a  sufficient  reason  for  the  preparation  of  this  chap- 
ter, in  the  fact  that  a  large  and  intelligent  class  of  persons 
prefer  this  system  of  practice,  and  there  can  be  no  doubt 
that  it  is  as  well  adapted  to  the  diseases  of  animals  as  to 
those  of  the  human  family. 

The  practice  of  "Veterinary  Homceopathy  has  been  popu- 
larized by  several  valuable  works,  to  two  of  which  we  are 
much  indebted  in  the  compilation  of  this  chapter — "  The 
New  Manual  of  Veterinary  Homoeopathic  Medicine,"  by  J. 
C.  Schoefer,  translated  by  Ch.  J.  Hempel,  M.  D.,  and  "  The 
Hand  Book  of  Veterinary  HomoBopathy,"  by  John  Rush, — 
published  by  Wm.  Radde,  N.  Y.  The  reader  is  referred 
to  these  works  for  the  treatment  of  complicated  cases. 

The  remedies  used  in  homoeopathic  treatment  should  be 
prepared  with  the  greatest  care,  and  are  usually  in  the 
form  of  liquid  solutions.  They  can  be  purchased  at  pres- 
ent only  at  certain  places  in  large  towns ;  but  as  they  may 
be  kept  for  a  very  long  time,  and  are  not  expensive,  and 

[844] 


LIST   OF   MEDICINES. 


845 


as  a  very  small  quantity  will  suffice  for  years,  it  will  be 
found  most  convenient  to  procure  sets  of  the  remedies, 
which  are  neatly  put  up  in  boxes.  The  following  list  of 
medicines  will  be  found  sufficient  for  the  ordinary  diseases 
of  the  horse.  The  first  column  gives  the  names  which  are 
used  in  the  prescriptions,  the  second  gives  the  abbreviations 
with  which  the  bottles  are  labelled,  and  the  third  gives  the 
English  signification  of  the  Latin  terms. 


LATIN. 

ABBBEVIATION. 

ENGLISH. 

Aconitum  napellus, 

Aeon. 

Wolfs  bane. 

jViTiTTionium  muriaticum, 

Am.  mur. 

Muriate  of  ammonia. 

Antimonium  crudum, 

Ant.  or. 

Antimony. 

Arnica  montana, 

Am. 

Leopard's  bane. 

Arsenicum  album, 

Ars. 

Arsenic. 

Belladonna, 

Bell. 

Deadly  nightshade. 

Bryonia  alba, 

Bry. 

White  bryony. 

Calcaria  carbonica, 

Calc.  carb. 

Carbonate  of  lime. 

Campora, 

Camph. 

Camphor. 

Cannabis  satira, 

Can.  sat. 

Hemp. 

Cantharides, 

Canth. 

Spanish  fly. 

Carbo  vegetabilis, 

Carb.  veg. 

Vegetable. 

Causticum, 

Caust. 

Caustic. 

Chamomilla, 

Cham. 

Chamoinile  flower. 

China, 

Chin. 

Peruvian  bark. 

Cina, 

Cin. 

Wormseed. 

Colchicum  autumale, 

Colch. 

Meadow  safiron. 

Colocynthis, 

Conium  maculatum. 

Con. 

Hemlock. 

Dulcamara, 

Dulc. 

Bittersweet. 

Euphrasia  officinalis, 

Euphr. 

Eye  bright. 

Hepar  sulpliuris, 

Hep. 

Liver  of  sulphur. 

Hyoscyamus  niger, 

Hyoc. 

Henbane. 

Ipecacuanha, 

Ipec. 

Ipecacuanha  root. 

Kali  carbonicum. 

Kal.  carb. 

Carbonate  of  potash. 

Lycopodium, 

Lye. 

Clubb  moss. 

Mercurius  corrosivus, 

Merc.  cor. 

Corrosive  sublimate. 

15* 

846 


VETERINARY  HOMCEOPATHY. 


Mercurius  solubilis, 

Merc.  sol. 

Soluble  mercury. 

Mercurius  vivus, 

Merc.  V. 

Quicksilver. 

Natrum  muriaticum, 

Nat.  mur. 

Kitchen  salt. 

Nitrum, 

Nitr. 

Saltpetre. 

Nux  vomica, 

Nux.  V. 

YomJc  nut. 

Opium, 

Op. 

White  poppy. 

Phosphorus, 

Phos. 

Phosphorus. 

Platina, 

Plat. 

Platina. 

Pulsatilla, 

Puis. 

Meadow  anemone, 

Rhus  Toxicodendron, 

Rhus  t. 

Sumach. 

Sabina, 

Sab. 

Savina. 

Secale  cornutum, 

Sec. 

Spurred  rye. 

Sepia, 

Sep. 

Cuttle  fish. 

Silicea, 

Sil. 

Silex. 

Spongia  marinatosta, 

Spong. 

Burnt  sponge. 

Squilla  maritina, 

Squil. 

Sea  onion. 

Stramonium, 

Stram. 

Stiukweed. 

Sulphur, 

Sulph. 

Brimstone, 

Thuja  occidentalis, 

Thuj. 

Tree  of  Life. 

Veratrum  album, 

Verat. 

White  hellbore 

Tartarus  emeticus, 

Tartar  emetic. 
Nitric  acid. 
Phosphoric  acid. 
Tincture  sulphur. 

The  remedies  being  in  a  liquid  form,  the  best  means  of 
administering  them  to  the  horse  is,  to  put  six  drops  on  a 
small  piece  of  bread,  or  on  a  wafer  of  flour  paste,  and  to 
raise  the  horse's  head  a  little,  ''  press  down  the  tongue  to 
one  side,  and  pull  it  out  as  far  as  may  be,  and  then  place 
the  wafer  as  far  back  as  possible ;  after  which  the  mouth 
is  held  closed  with  the  hand,  in  order  to  compel  the  animal 
to  swallow  the  wafer."  Schoefer  says :  In  some  cases  the 
dose  has  to  be  repeated  ;  but  all  useless  and  improper  rep- 
etitions should  be  avoided.  If  no  change  of  any  kind 
should  take  place  after  the  first  dose,  this  is  a  sure  sign 
that  the  medicine  had  been  improperly  selected,  and  that  a 


DIRECTIONS  FOR   ADMINISTERING   MEDICINES.       847 

second  dose  of  tlie  same  remedy  would  not  do  any  more 
good  than  the  former  had  done.  In  this  case  we  have  to 
review  the  symptoms  a  second  time,  and  to  select  a  different 
remedy.  If  the  first  dose  should  produce  a  favorable 
change  in  the  symptoms  of  the  disease,  and  this  change 
should  again  be  followed  by  an  aggravation,  it  is  proper  to 
give  a  second  dose  of  the  same  remedy.  If  the  symptoms 
should  become  aggravated  after  the  first  dose,  we  should 
not  all  at  once  resort  to  a  different  remedy ;  for  this  aggra- 
vation might  be  what  we  have  termed  homoeopathic  aggra- 
vation, which  would  soon  be  followed  by  a  favorable  re- 
action. In  all  very  acute  diseases  that  run  a  rapid  course, 
and  after  one,  two,  or  four  weeks,  terminate  in  death  or  re- 
covery, such  as  Glanders,  Pleura,  Pneumonia,  et  cetera,  the 
dose  should  be  repeated  every  five,  ten,  or  fifteen  minutes. 

In  such  dangerous  maladies,  the  first  dose  is  often  fol- 
lowed by  a  visible  improvement,  which  soon  ceases,  how- 
ever :  this  is  the  time  to  repeat  the  dose,  and  a  second  dose 
may  then  be  eminently  useful.  In  chronic  diseases  that 
run  a  long  course,  the  medicine  may  be  repeated  every 
day,  or  every  two,  three,  or  four  days.  In  such  cases  the 
rule  is,  likewise,  not  to  interfere  with  an  incipient  improve- 
ment by  giving  another  dose  of  the  same  or  some  other 
remedy. 

If  the  improvement  stops,  the  medicine  may  be  repeat- 
ed, and  if  no  improvement  at  all  should  set  in  after  a  rea- 
sonable lapse  of  time,  another  medicine  may  be  chosen. 
Among  the  class  of  chronic  diseases  we  number  all  ner- 
vous and  mental  diseases,  lingering  fevers,  etc.  An  im- 
proper remedy  does  not  produce  any  very  injurious  effects ; 
for  a  homoeopathic  remedy  only  acts  upon  a  disease  to  which 
the  medicine  is  really  homoeopathic :  otherwise  the  small- 
ness  of  the  dose  is  such  that  the  medicine  cannot  possibly 


348  VETERINARY  HOMCEOPATIIY. 

affect  the  organism.  All  that  we  have  to  do  is,  to  give 
another  remedy,  and  endeavor  to  avoid  mistakes  for  the 
future.  Homoeopathic  remedies  may  be  applied  externally 
in  the  case  of  burns,  and  other  injuries.  We  use  princi- 
pally Arnica,  Symphytum,  and  Urtica-urens,  from  twenty 
to  thirty  drops  in  a  half  pint  of  water,  and  this  mixture 
to  be  applied  to  the  part  according  to  directions. 

A  proper  diet  in  the  case  of  sick  domestic  animals  is 
of  great  importance.  All  applications,  quack  medicines, 
etc.,  that  might  interfere  with  the  regular  treatment,  have 
to  be  avoided.  Injections  of  water  mixed  with  a  little  salt 
on  soap  are  allowable.  The  usual  feed  may  be  continued. 
«  «  *  *  *  *  *  Half  an  hour,  at  least,  should 
elapse,  between  the  feeding  and  taking  of  the  medicine. 

On  the  treatment  of  the  sick  animal,  Eush  says  : 

Treatment  of  a  sick  animal.  As  soon  as  an  animal  is  dis- 
covered to  be  unwell,  let  it  be  immediately  placed  in  a 
house  by  itself ;  this  is  necessary  both  for  the  welfare  of 
the  sick  animal  and  for  the  safety  of  the  others.  The 
house  that  the  animal  is  placed  in  ought  to  be  warm,  well- 
lighted  and  ventilated,  and  above  all,  kept  scrupulously 
clean.  Let  the  person  who  attends  to  the  wants  of  the 
animal  be  very  cautious  to  approach  in  a  quiet  manner, 
never  make  any  unnecessary  noise,  or  do  any  thing 
that  would  tend  to  irritate  the  animal  when  in  a  state  of 
health. 

With  regard  to  diet.  In  acute  diseases  no  food  whatever 
ought  to  be  given  until  improvement  has  taken  place,  and 
even  then  only  in  a  sparing  manner;  the  articles  of  diet 
most  suitable  are  bran,  oats,  hay,  carrots,  Swede  turnips, 
and  green  food,  either  grass  or  clover. 

The  bran  may  be  given  either  dry  or  wetted,  whichever 
way  the  animal  prefers  it. 


REMEDIES.  c49 

Oats  may  be  given  mixed  with  tbc  bran,  either  raw  and 
crushed,  or  whole  and  boiled. 

It  is  necessary  to  keep  the  animal  without  food  or  water 
half  an  hour  before  and  after  administering  the  medicine. 

Repetition  of  the  dose.  In  acute  diseases  it  is  necessary  to 
repeat  the  dose  every  five,  ten,  fif teen,  or  twenty  minutes. 

In  less  acute  diseases,  every  two,  four,  six,  or  eight  hours. 

In  chronic  diseases,  once  in  twenty-four  hours  is  suffi- 
cient. 

KEMEDIES  FOR  SPECIFIC  DISEASES. 
t 

MANGE. 

The  principal  medicine  to  be  used  in  this  disease  is  Sul- 
phur, of  which  six  drops  must  be  given  every  day  for  two 
or  three  weeks  ;  afterwards  the  following  medicines  will  be 
found  useful — Arsenicum,  Sepioe,  and  Rhus  toxicodendron. 

Arsenicum,  if  the  hair  falls  ofif  and  the  skin  becomes 
loose  and  flabby,  or  if  there  are  ulcers  with  hard  red 
edges. 

Dose. — Six  drops  night  and  morning. 

Sepioe,  if  the  parts  affected  are  tender,  and  the  animal 
shrinks  when  touched,  or  if  there  are  white-looking  blisters, 
filled  with  a  watery  fluid. 

Dose. — Six  drops  night  and  morning. 

Rhus  toxicodendron,  if  there  are  hard  elevated  patches 
or  scabs  that  do  not  fall  off  of  themselves,  and  if  taken  off, 
others  soon  form  in  their  places. 

Dose. — Six  drops  three  times  a  day  until  better. 

FARCY. 

REMEDIES.  Aconite,  Arsenicum,  China,  Rhus  Toxico- 
dendron, and  Thuja  Occidentalis. 

Aconite^  if  accompanied  with  fever,  in  which  case  the 


850  VETEEINARY  HOMCEOPATHY. 

swelling  is  hot  and  painful,  the  animal  refuses  to  eat,  is 
restless,  and  moves  about  from  place  to  place. 

Dose. — Six  drops  or  twelve  globules,  three  or  four 'times  a  day. 
Arsenicum  and  China  alternately,  if  the  swelling  is  cold. 

Dose. — The  same  as  prescribed  for  Aconite. 
Rhus  toxicodendron^  if  with  the  hot  swelling  there  is  great 
stiffness  of  the  limb. 

Dose. — Six  drops  or  eight  globules,  morning,  noon  and  night. 
Thuja  occidentalism  if   there  are  any   pimples  or  hard 
patches,  or  if  the  animal  frequently  stretches  the  limbs,  and 
a  crackling  noise  is  heard  at  the  s&e  time. 

Dose. — The  same  as  recommended  for  Rhus  toxicodendron. 

GREASE. 

"REMEDIES.  Thuja  occidentalism  Secale  cornuiumy  Ai^sen- 
icum.m  Mercurius  vivus,  and  Sulphur. 

Thuja  occidentalism  both  internally  and  externally,  if 
there  are  bluish  or  brownish  .excrescences,  which  bleed  on 
the  least  touch,  and  there  is  a  discharge  of  fetid  iclior. 

Dose. — Six  drops  three  times  a  day;  at  the  same  time  the  parts  may  be 
bathed  with  the  strong  tincture  night  and  morning. 

Secale  cornutum  and  Arsenicum  may  be  used  in  alterna- 
tion, if  there  is  a  watery  swelling  or  dark  looking  ulcers, 
with  fetid  discharge. 

Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  Thuja  occidentalis,  internally. 
Mercurius  vivus,  when  there  are  numerous  small  ulcers 
that  discbarge  a  thick  matter,  and  bleed  when  touched. 
Dose. — Six  or  eight  drops  twice  a  day. 

It  is  necessary  to  give  a  dose  of  Sulphur  once  a  week 
during  the  treatment,  and  keep  the  legs  clean  by  washing 
them  with  warm  water. 


REMEDIES.  851 

FOUNDER. 

REMEDIES.  Aconite^  Bryonia^  Veratrum,  Arsenicum^ 
and  Rhus  toxicodendron. 

Aconite^  if  there  is  inflammation,  the  animal  stands  as  if 
rooted  to  one  spot,  the  breathing  is  hurried  and  interrupted, 
the  breath  is  hot,  and  the  pulse  accelerated. 

Dose. — Six  drops  every  one,  two  or  three  hours. 

Bryonia,  complete  stiffness  of  the  limbs,  with  swelling 
of  the  joints. 

Dose. — Six  drops  every  two  hours. 

Veratrum^  if  it  is  brought  on  by  violent  exercise. 

Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  Bryonia. 
Arsenicum,  if  it  is  caused  by  bad  or  heating  food,  or 
after  a  cold  drink  when  overheated. 

Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  Aconite. 
Rhus  toxicodendron^  if  there  is  much  pain  in  the  feet,  and 
the  animal  is  very  stiff  in  his  movements. 
Dose. — Six  drops  or  eight  globules  three  times  a  day  ;  at  the  same  time 
the  limbs  may  be  bathed  with  a  solution  of  Rhus,  externally,  twice  a  day. 

HIDE  BOUND. 

REMEDIES.  Arsenicum^  Antimonium  crvdum,  Mercu- 
rius  vivits,  and  Sulphur. 

Arsenicum^  if  there  are  hard  scurfy  patches  about  the 
skin,  coldness  of  the  skin,  general  emaciation,  loss  of 
strength. 

Dose. — Six  drops  or  six  globules  three  times  a  day  until  better. 

Antimonium  crudum^  if  there  are  rough  scales  on  the 
skin,  coat  very  rough,  loss  of  appetite,  and  excessive 
thirst. 

Dose. — Six  drops  in  a  little  water  night  and  morning. 

Mercurius  vivus,  if  the  animal  has  fits  of  shivering,  the 


852  VETERINARY   HOMCEOPATHY. 

hair  falls  off  from  various  parts  and  leaves  the  skin  of  a 
dull  leaden  color,  voracious  appetite  or  unnatural  appe- 
tite, eating  of  dirty  litter  and  even  dung. 

Dose. — Six  drops  or  six  globules  niglit  and  morning. 
Sulphur^  as  an  intermediate  remedy,  may  be  given  twice 
a  week  during  the  whole  treatment. 

Dose. — Six  drops  in  a  little  water. 

THRUSH. 

This  disease  is  of  frequent  occurrence,  where  proper 
care  is  not  taken  as  regards  cleanliness,  by  allowing  the 
horse  to  be  continually  standing  on  moist  litter  or  in  his 
dung,  whereby  the  frog  becomes  soft  and  tender,  and  there. 
is  a  discharge  of  fetid  pus  and  matter  from  the  cleft  of  the 
frog.  For  the  cure  of  this  disease  cleanliness  is  requisite, 
and  to  place  the  animal  upon  a  dry  or  sandy  bottom. 

REMEDIES.    Tincture  sulphuris^  Phosphoric  acid,  Squil- 

la,  and  Arsenicum. 

Tincture  sulphuris  is  considered  most  specific  for  this 

disease. 

Dose. — Six  drops  night  and  morning  until  better. 

Phosphoric  acid  is  useful,  especially  if  the  preceding  rem- 
edy has  been  of  little  benefit. 

Dose. — The  same  as  of  Tincture  Sulphur. 
JSquilla,  if  there  is  a  fever  or  inflammation  of  the  parts. 
Dose. — Four  drops  twice  a  day  until  the  inflammation  is  subdued. 
Arsenicum^  if  the  discharge  is  very  fetid,  and  there  is 
lameness,  the  foot  very  hot  and  painful. 

Dose. — Six  drops  three  times  a  day. 

Megrims. 

REMEDIES.  Aconite,  Belladonna,  Arnica,  Opium,  and 
Sulphur. 


REMEDIES.  853 

Aconite  will  be  serviceable,  and  may  always  be  given, 
especially  if  during  an  attack  the  horse  falls  down  and 
then  tries  to  get  up  again  without  succeeding. 

Dose. — Four  drops  every  hour  until  relieved,  after  which  it  may  be  re- 
peated at  longer  intervals,  increasing  them  until  the  horse  is  entirely 

cured. 

Belladonna^  if  the  animal  turns  quickly  round,  falls 
down  and  continues  alternately  to  struggle  and  lie  quietly. 
Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  Aconite. 

Arnica^  if  the  disease  is  supposed  to  arise  from  mechan- 
ical injury. 

Dose. — Six  drops  every  one,  two  or  three  hours,  according  to  the  sever- 
ity of  the  case. 

Opium^  if  the  animal  lies  in  a  stupid  state  as  if  dead. 
Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  Arnica. 

The  medicine  ought  to  be  given  two  or  three  times  a 
day,  for  a  week  after  an  attack,  to  prevent  its  recurrence, 
finishing  with  a  dose  or  two  of  Sulphur  in  the  same  man- 
ner as  directed  for  the  other  remedies,  only  at  longer  inter- 
vals. 

TNFLAMMATION  OF  THE   BRAIN. 

REMEDIES.  Aconite^  Belladonna^  Yeratrum^  and  Opium, 
Aconite^  in  the  very  commencement  of  this  disease,  if 
the   pulse   is   accelerated,   fever,  congestion   towards  the 
brain,  rapid  breathing,  and  trembling  of  the  whole  body. 

Dose. — Six  drops  every  twenty  minutes  until  several  doses  have  been 

taken,  or  the  more  violent  symptoms  subdued,  after  which  the  next 

remedy  should  be  taken  into  consideration. 

Belladonna^  if  the  animal  has  a  wild,  staring,  fixed  look, 
dashes  furiously  and  unconsciously  about,  which  is  indica- 
tive of  violent  congestion  of  the  brain. 


oo4  VETERINARY  HOMCEOPATHY. 

Dose. — Six  drops  put  upon  tlie  tongue  every  fifteen  or  thirty  minutes, 
until  the  violence  of  the  attack  is  subdued. 

Verainim,  if  the  legs  and  ears  are  icj  cold,  with  convul- 
sive trembling  of  the  whole  body,  or  where  there  is  a 
reeling,  staggering  motion,  and  the  animal  plunges  vio- 
lently and  falls  down  head  foremost. 

Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  Belladonna. 

Opiurii^  if  after  the  paroxysms  the  animal  remains  mo- 
tionless, with  fixed,  staring  eyes,  the  tongue  of  a  black 
or  leaden  color. 

Dose. — Six  drops  every  half,  one  or  two  hours,  according  to  circum- 
stances. 


REMEDIES.  Aconite^  Nux  vomica,  Dulcamara^  Rhus 
toxicodendron,  Bryonia,  Arsenicum,  Mercurius  vivus,  and 
Pulsatilla. 

Aconite  will  be  useful  in  the  beginning  of  the  disease, 
if  there  is  fever  and  heat  of  the  body,  restlessness,  short 
hurried  breathing,  violent  thirst,  urine  fiery  red,  and  the 
discharge  from  the  nose  impeded. 

Dose. — Six  drops  or  six  globules  every  three  hours  until  better. 

Nux  vomica,  if  during  the  prevalence  of  north-easterly 
winds,  and  if  the  mouth  is  dry,  tongue  coated  white,  an 
offensive  earthy  odor  emitted  from  the  mouth,  and  a  thin 
watery  or  thick  bloody  discharge  from  the  nose. 
Dose. — Six  drops  or  six  globules  twice  a  day. 

Dulcamara,  if  the  attack  was  brought  on  from  exposure 
to  wet,  and  the  animal  is  dull  and  drowsy,  the  tongue 
coated  with  a  thick  sticking  phlegm. 

Dose.— The  same  as  directed  for  Nux  vomica. 

Rhus  toxicodendron,  if  short  dry  cough,  great  accumulation 


REMEDIES.  355 

of  mucus  in  the  nose,  without  being  able  to  discharge  it, 
obstructed  respiration,  frequent  sneezing,  and  restlessness. 
Dose. — Four  drops  or  six  globules  three  times  a  day. 
Bryonia^  if  there  is  difficulty  in  breathing,  dry  spasmodic 
cough,  swelling  of  the  nose,  profuse  corjza,  or  crusts  of 
hardened  mucus  in  the  nose. 

Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  Rhus  toxicodendron. 
Arsenicum^  if  the  discharge  from  the  nose  continues  too 
long,  is  acrid  and  corroding  to  the  nostrils,  dry  cough,  sneez- 
ing, with  discharge  of  watery  mucus  from  the  nose. 
Dose. — Six  drops  twice  a  day. 
Mercurius  vivus^  in  the  first  stage  of  the  disease,  if  there 
is  swelling  of  the  nose,  profuse  coryza  with  much  sneez- 
ing. 

Dose. — Six  drops  or  six  globules  three  times  a  day. 

Pulsatilla^  if  the  cough  is  loose,  discharge  of  greenish 
fetid  matter  from  the  nose. 

Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  Mercurius  vivus. 

COUGH. 

.  KEMEDIES.  Dulcamara,  Nux  vomica^  Squilla^  Bryonia^ 
Ammonium  muriaticum,  Brosera,  Pulsatilla,  and  Lycopo- 
dium. 

Dulcamara,  if  it  follows  cold,  especially  if  the  cold  cornea 
on  from  wet,  and  there  is  a  discharge  from  the  nose. 

Dose. — Four  or  six  drops  three  or  four  times  a  day  until  better. 
'  Nux  vomica,  if  the  cough  is  dry,  and  the  cough  comes 
on  when  first  leaving  the  stable. 

Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  Dulcamara. 
Squilla,  if  the  animal  makes  a  groaning  noise  before 
coughing,  and  the  whole  body  shakes  from  coughing. 
Dose. — Four  drops  or  six  globules  two  or  three  times  a  day. 


366  VETERINARY   HOMCEOPATHY. 

Bryonia,  if  tlie  cough  is  of  several  weeks'  standing,  and 
worse  from  motion. 

Dose. — Six  drops  night  and  morning. 
Ammonium  muriaticum,    if   the   horse   appears   to   be 
choked  or  about  to  vomit,  loss  of  flesh,  the  skin  sticks  to 
the  ribs. 
Dose. — Four  drops  every  three  hours  until  improvement  is  manifest. 
Drosera,  if  the  cough  is  of  long  standing,  worse  at  night 
when  the  animal  lies  down. 

Dose. — Six  drops  night  and  morning. 
Pulsatilla,  if  the  animal  is  timid  and  easily  frightened, 
or  if  with  the  cough  there  is  a  bad  smelling  clischarge  from 
the  nostrils. 

Dose. — Four  drops  or  six  globules  every  three  hours. 
Lycopodium,    if   the   cough   is  excited  or   worse  after 
drinking,  and   comes  on  in  fits,  coughing  a  great  many- 
times  in  rapid  succession. 

Dose. — Six  drops  three  times  a  day. 
Attention  ought  to  be  paid  to  diet  in  this  disease ;  no 
inferior  food  should  be  given,  such  as  the  animal  must  eat 
a  large  quantity  of  to  keep  itself  alive ;  but  whatever  is 
given  should  be  good,  and  that  moistened  with  coZci  water ; 
carrots  are  very  good,  either  raw  or  boiled. 

SORE   THROAT. 

REMEDIES.  Aconite,  Mercurius  vivus,  Belladonna, 
Spongia,  Lycopodium,  and  Sulphur. 

Aconite,  if  there  is  much  fever,  accompanied  with  dry 
heat  of  the  skin,  the  parts  affected  inflamed  and  red,  vio- 
lent thirst,  and  difficulty  in  swallowing. 

Dose. — Four  drops  every  two  hours,  until  the  febrile  symptoms  have 
ameliorated,  after  which  give  the  next  remedy. 


REMEDIES.  857 

Mercurius  vivusj  if  there  is  much  saliva  in  the  month, 
enlargement  and  swelling  of  the  glands  of  the  neck,  diffi- 
cult deglutition,  symptoms  worse  toward  night. 

Dose. — Six  drops  or  eight  globules  three  times  a  day  until  better. 

Belladonna,  if  there  is  difficulty  in  breathing,  shrinking 
when  the  throat  is  touched,  as  the  slightest  pressure  causes 
a  choking  sensation,  difficulty  of  swallowing,  especially 
fluids,  which  are  returned  through  the  nose. 

Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  Mercurius. 

Spongia,  if  the  breathing  is  very  difficult,  accompanied 
with  a  rattling  kind  of  sound,  the  animal  has  an  anxious 
countenance,  turns  his  head  from  side  to  side  and  appears 
to  be  suffocating. 

Dose. — Four  or  six  globules  every  two  hours. 

Lycopodium,  if  the  animal  sweats,'  and  the  swelling  is 
most  under  the  jaw,  the  membrane  inside  the  nose  and  lips 
yellow,  the  mouth  smells  very  badly. 

Dose. — Six  drops  night  and  morning  until  better. 

Sulphur,  in  obstinate  cases,  if  the  swelling  is  extensive, 
painful  constriction  with  difficult  deglutition. 
Dose. — The  same  as  of  Lycopodium. 

INFLAMMATION   OF  THE   LUNGS. 

EEMEDIES.  Aconite,  Phosphorus,  Bryonia,  Belladonna^ 
Tartar  emetic,  Hepar  sul2:>hur,  Mercurius  vivus.  Ipecacuanha, 
Rhus  toxicodendron,  Squilla,  and  Sulphur, 

Aconite,  in  the  very  commencement,  if  there  is  much. 
fever,  quick  and  full  pulse,  thirst,  hurried  respiration,  dry 
heat  of  the  skin.  It  is  considered  the  sheet  anchor  for  this 
disease,  as  well  as  for  all  cases  of  inflammation,  if  it  is 
resorted  to  immediately  at  the  commencement  of  an  attach. 

Dose. — Four  drops  or  six  globules  every  fifteen,  twenty  or  thirty  minutes, 
until  some  amelioration  of  the  most  violent  symptoms  takes  place,  which 


858  VETERINARY  HOMOEOPATHY. 

may  generally  be  seen  at  the  end  of  two  or  three  hours  ;  it  may  then  be 
administered  at  longer  intervals,  in  alternation  with  the  next  following 

remedy. 

Phosphorus  may  be  used  in  alternation  with.  Aconite^  when 
the  more  violent  febrile  symptoms  have  been  subdued. 
Dose. — Four  drops  or  six  globules  every  one,  two  or  three  hours,  accord- 
ing to  the  violence  of  the  symptoms. 

Bryonia^  if  the  breathing  is  difficult,  especially  if  with 
each  respiration  there  is  heard  a  grunting  sound. 
Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  Phosphorus. 

Belladonna^  if  the  breathing  is  hurried,  and  a  rattling 
noise  is  heard  in  the  throat,  short  dry  cough  occasioning  a 
spasmodic  constriction  of  the  throat  and  chest. 

Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  Phosphorus. 
Tartar  emetic^  if  the  breathing  is  short  and  difficult,  cough 
coming  on  in  paroxysms,  irregular,  almost  imperceptible 
pulse ;  it  is  especially  useful  if  hepatization  is  supposed  to 
have  commenced. 

Dose. — Four  drops  or  six  globules  every  three  or  four  hours. 
Hepar  sulphur^  frequent  deep  breathing,  with  wheezing, 
expectoration  of  tenacious  mucus,  as  if  tubercles  or  ab- 
scesses had  formed. 

Dose. — Six  drops  three  times  a  day. 
Mercurius  vivus^  if  there  is  much  discharge,  dry  cough 
oppressed  breathing,  pulse  feeble,  frequent  sweating. 
Dose. — The  same  as  prescribed  for  Hepar  sulphur. 
Ipecacuanha^  if  the  breathing  is  rapid  and  anxious,  rat- 
tling noise  in  the  throat  when  breathing,  eyes  red  and  in- 
flamed. 

Dose. — Six  drops  every  one,  two  or  three  hours,  according  to  the  vio 
lence  of  the  case. 


KEMEDIES.  859 

Rhus  toxicodendron^  if  there  is  o]Dpres3ion  and  haaving 
of  the  chest  in  breathing,  the  nose  red,  inflamed  and  pain- 
ful to  the  touch,  and  the  animal  has  his  legs  widely  sepa- 
rated. 

Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  Ipecacuanha. 

jSquilla,  violent  painful  cough,  breathing  quick  and  anx- 
ious, constant  desire  to  nrinate. 

Dose. — Four  drops  or  six  globules  every  three  hours. 

Sulphur^  rattling  in  the  chest  on  breathing,  relieved  by 
expectoration,  cough  dry,  with  discharge  of  lumpy,  green- 
ish mucus  as  if  abscesses  had  formed. 

Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  Hepar  sulphur. 

The  animal  must  be  debarred  from  food  till  the  violence 
of  the  disease  is  abated,  and  then  it  ought  to  be  sparingly 
given  for  some  time.  Cold  bran  mashes,  carrots,  and  a 
little  sweet  hay  may  be  given.  After  a  day  or  two,  if  all 
goes  on  favorably,  a  few  oats  may  be  allowed ;  cold  soft 
water,  frequently  refreshed,  should  be  constantly  kept 
within  reach  of  the  horse. 

If  the  legs  are  cold,  they  must  be  rubbed  with  the  hands, 
and  flannel  bandages  applied  ;  the  usual  practice  is  to  use 
straw  or  hay  bands,  but  these  are  too  cumbrous,  and  fre- 
quently irritate  the  animal,  and  consequently  do  more 
harm  than  good. 

INFLUENZA. 
REMEDIES.     Aconite^  Mercurius  vivus^  Belladonna^  Ar- 
senicum^ and  Bryonia. 

Aconite  is  generally  required  to  commence  the  treatment 
with,  if  the  disease  assumes  an  inflammatory  character,  and 
there  is  fever,  dry  cough,  violent  sneezing,  and  running 
from  the  nose. 

Dose. — Four  drops  or  six  globules  every  three  hours. 


860  VETERINARY   HOMCEOPATHY. 

Mercurius  vivus,  if  witli  the  sore  throat  there  is  profuse 
secretion  of  saliva,  the  animal  sweats,  watering  of  the  eyes 
and  intolerance  of  light. 

Dose. — Six  drops  three  times  a  day. 
Belladonna,  if  the  head  is  affected,  the  eyes  prominent 
and  inflamed,  inability  to  swallow,  especially  fluids. 
Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  AcoEite. 
Arsenicum,  if  there  is  great  weakness,  general  heat  of 
tlie  body,  loose  evacuations,  sometimes  bloody,  discharge 
of  bloody  matter  from  the  nose,  great  thirst. 

Dose. — Four  or  six  drops  three  times  a  day, 

Bryonia  is  useful,  if  the  febrile  symptoms  do  not  give 
way  after  using  Aconite,  and  the  discharge  from  the  nose 
stops,  and  the  breathing  becomes  affected. 

Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  Aconite. 

COLIC   OR   GRIPES. 

REMEDIES.  Aconite,  Arsenicum,  Nux  vomica,  Opium^ 
Chamomilla,  Colcliicum,  Cantharis,  Hyoscyamus,  and  Colo- 
cynth. 

Aconite,  in  the  commencement  if  there  is  dryness  of  the 
mouth,  the  ears  are  either  hot  or  cold,  breath  hot,  pulse 
accelerated. 

Dose. — Four  drops  or  six  globules  every  fifteen  or  thirty  minutes, 

according  to  the  urgency  of  the  case,  if  no  relief  is  obtained  after  the 

third  dose,  proceed  then  with  the  next  remedy. 

Arsenicum,  if  the  disease  depends  on  indigestion,  food 
of  bad  quality,  drinking  cold  water  when  heated,  or  if  it 
is  caused  by  a  constipated  state  of  the  bowels,  in  which  case 
it  is  considered  to  be  specific. 

Dose. — Six  drops  every  half,  one  or  two  hours. 

I  have  succeeded  in  curing  a  great  number  of  cases 


REMEDIES.  361 

with  these  two  medicines ;  I  generally,  after  giving  two  or 
three  doses  of  Aconite^  give  Arsenicum  and  Aconite  alter- 
nately. 

Nux  vomica^  is  useful  for  colic  from  constipation,  when 
the  animal  walks  slowly  round,  and  then  lies  or  falls  down 
suddenly,  bloated  appearance  of  one  or  both  flanks. 
Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  Arsenicum. 

Opium^  if  Nux  vomica  fails  to  remove  the  constipation, 
or  if  the  excrements  are  very  dry,  hard  and  dark  colored 
nearly  black,  and  the  animal  lies  stretched  out  as  if  dead. 

Dose. — Four  drops  or  six  globules  every  one,  two  or  three  hours,  accord- 
ing to  the  urgency  of  the  case. 

Ghamomilla^  if  the  bowels  are  relaxed,  the  animal  is 
very  restless,  frequently  lying  down  and  getting  up ;  an 
attack  of  pain  soon  followed  by  an  evacuation,  swelling  of 
the  abdomen,  extremities  cold,  especially  the  ears. 

Dose. — Six  drops  every  one  or  two  hours,  according  to  the  severity  of 
the  case,  until  better. 

Cokhicum^  if  the  disease  is  caused  by  green  food,  and 
there  is  flatulent  distension  of  the  abdomen,  protrusion  of 
the  rectum,  the  animal  strikes  at  his  belly  with  his  hinder 
feet. 

Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  Chamomilla. 

CanthariSj  if  there  is  a  troublesome  retention  of  urine, 
and  the  animal  often  places  himself  in  position  to  pass 
urine,  but  only  succeeds  in  passing  a  few  drops ;  if  this 
remedy  does  not  relieve,  give  Hyoscyu^nius. 

Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  Chamomilla. 

INDIGESTION. 

EEMEDIES.     Antimonium  crudum^  Ipecacuanha^  Niix 
vomica^  Arsenicum^  China,  Silicea,  and  Sulphur. 
16 


862     •  VETERINARY   HOMCEOPATHY. 

Antimonium  crudurUj  if  there  is  total  loss  of  appetite, 
rough  staring  coat,  evacuations  watery  and  stinking,  crav- 
ing for  drink. 

Dose. — Six  drops  or  ten  globules  night  and  morning. 

Ipecacuanha,  if  there  is  aversion  to  food,  or  vomiting  of 
food  and  mucus,  stools  green  and  fetid. 

Dose. — The  same  as  of  Antimonium  crudum,  or  they  may  be  given 

alternately. 

Nux  vomica  is  useful,  if  it  arises  from  cold  in  the  spring 
of  the  year,  and  there  is  constipation,  or  the  animal  stands 
in  a  stupid,  drowsy  state  for  hours  together,  without  chang- 
ing his  position. 

Dose. — The  same  as  prescribed  for  Antimonium  crudum. 

Arsenicum,  if  the  derangement  of  the  stomach  is  of  long 
standing,  the  skin  becomes  hard  in  different  places,  with 
or  without  diarrhoea,  but  it  is  more  particularly  indicated 
when  the  stools  are  watery  or  bloody. 

Dose. — Six  drops  once  or  twice  a  day  according  to  circumstances. 

China,  if  it  is  a  young  horse  that  has  been  overworked, 
especially  if  there  is  much  debility  and  loss  of  appetite. 

Dose. — Four  drops  or  six  globules  three  times  a  day  until  better. 

Silicea,  if  the  animal  sweats  from  the  least  exertion. 
Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  China. 

Sulphur  may  be  given  as  an  intercurrent  remedy  in  any 
stage  of  the  disease. 

DIARRHOEA. 

EEMEDIES.  Bryonia,  Arsenicum,  Sulphur,  Chamo- 
milla,  Pulsatilla,  Dulcamara,  China,  Carho  vegetahilis,  and 
Colocynthis. 

Bryonia,  if  there  is  alternately  diarrhoea  and  constipation. 


REMEDIES.  S63 

or  if  brought  on  by  sudden  changes  of  temperature,  espe- 
cially from  beat  to  cold. 

Dose. — Six  or  eight  globules  every  three  or  four  hours. 
Arsenicum^  if  it  is  the  result  of  green  or  unwholesome 
food,  and  the  discharges  are  watery,  with  or  without  pain. 
Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  Bryonia. 
Sulphur  and  Arsejiicum  may  be  given  in  alternation  if  the 
evacuations  are  bloody  and  very  oJffensive ;  also  in  chronic 
diseases. 

Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  Bryonia. 
Carho  vegetahilis^  if  the  discharges  are  very  offensive  and 
approach  putridity. 

Dose. — Six  drops  or  eight  globules  every  four  or  six  hours. 
Chamomilla^  if  there  is  swelling  of  the  abdomen,  evacu- 
ations greenish,  and  the  animal  is  restless. 

Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  Bryonia. 
Pulsatilla^  if  the  evacuations  are  frequent  and  full  of 
air  bubbles,  flatulent  state  of  the  bowels,  aversion  to  food. 
Dose. — Six  drops  or  eight  globules  three  or  four  times  a  day. 
Dulcamara^  especially  in  summer,  if  it  has  been  brought 
on  by  taking  cold  after  getting  wet,  and  the  evacuations 
are  watery,  accompanied  with  colic. 

Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  Pulsatilla. 
China,  if  the  diarrhoea  is  of  an  intermittent  character. 

Dose. — The  same  as  the  preceding  remedy. 
Colocynthis,  if  approaching  dysentery,  with  colic,  and  the 
evacuations  consist  of  slime  and  blood. 

Dose. — Six  drops  every  one,  two  or  three  hours,  according  to  the  vio- 
lence of  the  case. 

INFLAMMATION   OF   THE   BOWELS. 

REMEDIES.     Aconite,  Arsenicum,  Rhus  toxicodendron, 
Colocynthis,  Nux  vomica^  Caniharis,  and  Arnica. 


36-±  VETERINARY   HOMCEOPATHY. 

Aconite  is  the  chief  remedy  to  be  depended  upon  in  this 
disease,  and  should  be  fi-equentlj  administered  till  a  calm 
is  established,  which  generally  takes  place  in  about  an  hour. 
Dose. — Six  drops  or  eight  globules  every  ten  or  fifteen  minutes,  until 

relieved. 

Arsenicum^  if  after  the  use  of  Acoyiite  some  symptoms 
still  remain,  especially  if  the  disease  has  been  produced  by 
green  food,  or  by  drinking  cold  water  when  heated. 
Dose. — Six  drops  every  half,  one  or  two  hours,  or  at  longer  intervals^  if 
the  disease  is  not  very  violent. 

RhvjS  toxicodendron^  if  the  extremities  are  alternately  hot 
and  cold,  with  sweating  of  the  belly,  and  a  frequent  dis- 
charge of  urine. 

Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  Arsenicum. 
Colocynthis^  if  Arsenicum  does  not  remove  all  the  symp- 
toms, especially  if  it  is  accompanied  with  colic,  and  there  are 
bloody  evacuations. 

Dose. — Six  drops  or  eight  globules  every  half  or  one  hour. 
Nux  vomica  or  Opium^  if  after  the  disease  is  cured  there 
remains  a  constipated  state  of  the  bowels. 

Dose. — Six  drops  night  and  morning. 
Oantharis  or  Hyoscyamus^  if  there  is  retention  of  urine. 
Arnica  will  be  useful  in  very  obstinate  cases,  if  the  dis- 
charges are  very  fetid,  frequently  small  stools  consi,sting 
only  of  slime. 

Dose. — Six  drops  every  one  or  two  hours,  until  better. 

WOEMS. 

KEMEDIES.     Cina^  Sulphur^  and  Mercurius  soluhilis. 
Cina,  if  there  is  a  discharge  of  worms,  violent  itching  of 
the  parts,  causing  the  animal  constantly  to  rub. 

Dose. — Six  drops  or  eight  globules  three  times  a  day. 


REMEDIES.  365 

Sulphur^  discharge  of  lumbrici,  with  hard  stool. 
Dose. — The  same  as  of  Cina. 

Mercurius  solubiHs,  if  there  is  violent  heaving  of  the' 
flanks,  discharge  of  large  worms,  soreness  of  the  anus. 
Dose. — Six  or  eight  drops  twice  a  day. 

Then  there  are  the  ascarides,  small  dark  or  red  worms ; 
these  sometimes  exist  in  immense  quantities,  and  hun- 
dreds are  often  voided  at  one  time. 

KEMEDIES.  Cina,  Digitalis,  Stramonium,  Sulphur,  and 
Arsenicum. 

Cina,  symptoms  similar  to  those  indicating  its  use  in 

lumbrici. 

Dose. — The  same  as  above  stated. 

Digitalis  may  be  given  if  the  animal  wastes  away,  and 

there  is  diarrhoea. 

Dose. — Six  drops  twice  a  day. 

Stramonium  is  useful  if  the  horse  rubs  himself  behind. 
Dose. — The  same  as  of  Digitalis. 

There  are  several  other  varieties  of  worms ;  but  the 
symptoms  are  too  complicated  to  be  treated  from  any 
directions  that  can  be  given;  but  generally  Cina  and 
Sulphur  will  be  found  beneficial.  I  have  also  seen  great 
improvement  from  a  dose  or  two  of  Arsenicum. 

INFLAMMATION  OF  THE   KIDNEYS. 

REMEDIES.  Aconite,  Arnica,  Dulcamara,  Cantharis, 
Cannabis,  and  Mercurius  vivus. 

Aconite  in  the  beginning,  if  the  animal  is  very  uneasy, 
and  the  urine  is  fiery  red,  depositing  a  thick  muddy  sedi- 
ment. 

Dose. — Six  drops  two  or  three  times  a  day. 

Arnica,  if  it  is  the  result  of  an  injury. 

Dose. — Six  drops  or  eight  globules  night  and  morning. 


VETEKINARY   HOMCEOPATHY. 

Dulcamara^  if  it  supervenes  after  exposure  to  wet. 
Dose. — The  same  as  of  Arnica. 
•    Cantharis^  if  there  are  frequent  and  painful  emissions 
of  bloody   urine,  in    small   quantities,  trembling  of    the 
hinder  extremities,  which  are  wide  apart,  and  the  back 
arched. 

Dose. — Six  drops  three  or  four  times  a  day,  until  relieved. 
Cannabis^  if  there  is  violent  straining;  the  animal  is 
very  restless,  paws  the  ground,  and  strikes  at  the  abdomen 
with  his  feet. 

Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  Cantharis. 
Mercurius  vivus,  if  the  animal  sweats  and  the  discharge 
of  urine  is  profuse. 

Dose. — The  same  as  directed  for  Cantharis. 


A    GLOSSARY    OF   DISEASES. 


ALBuao,     -    - 

Anchylosis,    - 

Amaurosis, 
Blood  Spavin, 

Bloody  Urine, 

Bog  Spavin,    - 
Bone  Spavin,  - 

BOTS,       -     -     - 


Break-down,  -    -    - 

Broken  Knees,  -    - 

Broken  Wind,    -    - 
Bruise  op  the  Sole, 


Partial  dimness  of  the  corner  of  the  eye,  with 
whitish  spots. 

Loss  of  motion  in  joints ;  bones  grown  together, 
or  ligaments  contracted. 

A  sort  of  blindness  called  "  glass  eyes." 

An  enlargement  of  the  sac  which  contains  the 
lubricating  fluid  of  the  hock  joint. 

An  emission  of  blood,  more  or  less  mixed  with 
urine. 

An  aggravated  form  of  blood  spavin. 

A  bony  enlargement  of  the  lower  part  of  the 
hock  joint  on  the  inner  side  of  the  leg. 

The  larvae  of  the  gad-fly.  The  eggs  are  de- 
posited on  the  horse's  hair,  and  after  he  licks 
them  off,  and  swallows  them,  they  are  hatched 
in  the  stomach,  where  they  adhere  to  its  sur- 
face. 

Eupture  of  the  sheath  which  confines  the  back 
tendon  of  the  leg. 

Injury  to  the  knees  from  falling.  The  skin  is 
broken,  and,  at  times,  the  joint  is  opened. 

Ruptui-e  of  the  air-cells  of  the  lungs  ;  heaves. 

Injury,  and  consequent  inflammation  of  the  sensi- 
ble, or  inner  sole,  caused  by  pressure  of  a  badly 
fitting  shoe,  of  gravel  between  the  shoe  and 
the  foot,  &c. 

[367] 


368 


GLOSSARY   OF  DISEASES. 


Capped  Hock, 


Catakact, 


-  A  swelling  of  the  point  of  the  hock,  behind^ 

caused  by  an  enlargement  of  a  sac  containing 
synovial  fluid,  as  in  blood  spavin. 

-  A  disease  of  the  eye. 


Colic,  Spasmodic,  -  A  spasmodic  action  of  the  muscular  coat  over 
certain  parts  of  the  intestines,  without  a  cor- 
responding activity  of  the  wh  ole.  It  pro- 
duces an  irregularity  in  the  passage  of  the 
food  through  the  intestinal  canal,  and  causes 
great  pain. 

Colic,  Flatulent,  -  An  inflation  of  the  bowels  by  gas  emitted  by 
the  fermentation  of  undigested  food. 

Contraction  op  the 

Foot, A  drawing  together  of  the  back  part  of  the 

foot,  and  an  accompanying  reduction  of  the 
size  of  the  frog. 

Corn, A  bruising  of  the  sensible  sole,  and  an  accom. 

panying  rupture  of  its  blood-vessels  at  the 
angles,  between  the  wall  of  the  foot  and  the 
bar. 

Curb,  -----  An  enlargement  of  the  back  part  of  the  hock, 
three  or  four  inches  below  its  point,  and  a 
strain  of  the  ligaments  of  the  tendon,  or  a 
rupture  of  its  sheath. 


Diabetes,  -  -  -  - 
Distemper,-  -  -  - 
Enteritis,  -    -    -    - 

Falling   in  of  the 
Foot, 


False  Quarter, 


Excessive  urinating. 

An  epidemic  catarrhal  fever. 

Inflammation  of  the  external  coats  of  the 
stomach. 

A  depression  of  the  front  part  of  the  wall  of  the 
foot,  caused  by  the  descent  of  the  coffin-bone 
m  pumiced  feet. 

A  more  or  less  complete  separation  of  the  hoof 
as  it  grows  down  from  the  coronet.  The  re- 
sult of  injury  to  the  coronet,  or  of  neglected 
quarter,  crack,  or  quittor. 


GLOSSARY  OF   DISEASES.  369 

Farcy, Obstruction  of  the  absorbent  vessels,  whose  duty 

it  is  to  remove  useless  matter  from  the  various 
organs.     It  is  a  stage  of  Glanders. 

Fistula    iic    the 

Withers,     -    -    -    A  bad  sore,  resulting  from  neglected  saddle- 
galls  on  the  withers. 

Fistula  in  the  Poll,  Poll  evil ;  a  troublesome  ulcer  on  the  top  of  the 
head. 

Foot,  Cankeb  in,  -  A  growth  of  fungus  matter  (proud  flesh)  be- 
tween the  horn  and  sensible  part  of  the 
foot. 

Founder,  Acute,  -  An  inflammation  of  the  laminae  of  the  foot, 
originating  in  too  hard  work,  or  in  cold. 

Founder,  Chronic,  -  This  is  a  species  of  founder,  insidious  in  its 
attack,  and  destructive  to  the  horse.  It 
produces  less  severe  lameness  than  acute 
founder. 

Foot,   Inflammation 

OP, Acute  founder. 

Foot,  Prick  in  the,  -  A  wound  of  the  laminae  by  a  badly  driven  nail, 
or  the  penetration  of  sharp  substances  to  the 
sensible  sole,  or  frog. 

Gall, Abrasion  of  the  skin  by  the  saddle  or  harness. 

Glass  Eye,  -    -    -    -    See  Amaurosis. 

Glanders,  -  -  -  -  A  contagious  disease,  peculiar  to  horses,  asses 
and  mules.  It  commences  with  a  slight  dis- 
charge, generally  from  one  nostril,  but  some- 
times from  both,  and  terminates  in  a  complete 
obstruction  of  the  absorbent  vessels,  which 
produces  death. 

Grease,  -----  An  inflammation  of  the  skin  of  the  heels,  whicb 
renders  them  dry  and  hard,  and  causes  them 
to  crack. 

Gripes, See  Colic. 

16* 


370 


GLOSSARY   OF  DISEASES. 


Grogoiness,  -  -  -  a  weakness,  and  tottering  condition  of  the  fore 
legs,  accompanied,  usually  by  a  knuckling 
over  of  the  fetlock  joint. 

GuTTA  Serena,     -    -    See  Amaurosis. 

Heaves,      -    -    -    -    See  Broken  Wind. 

Hematuria,     -    -    -    See  Bloody  Urine. 

Hernia,  -  -  -  -  A  protrusion  of  the  intestines,  through  a  natural 
or  artificial  opening  in  the  belly ;  rupture. 

Hide  Bound,  -  -  -  Dryness  and  unyielding  condition  of  the  skin, 
accompanied  by  a  staring  coat. 


Itch, See  Mange. 

Jaundice,  -  -  -  -  The  introduction  of  the  bile  into  the  general 
circulation.  It  is  accompanied  by  a  yellow 
appearance  of  the  skin  when  visible. 

Lamp  AS,  -----    A  swelling  of  the  gums  or  bars  of  the  mouth. 

Laminitis,  -    -    .    -    See  Founder. 

Laryngitis,     -    -    -    Inflammation  of  the  upper  part  of  the  windpipe. 

Locked  Jaw,  -  -  -  A  constant  spasm,  and  rigidity  of  all  of  the 
voluntary  muscles.     Usually  fatal. 

Luxation,  -    -    -    -    Partial  displacement  of  the  bones  of  a  joint. 

Mallenders,  -  -  -  Scurfy  eruptions  on  the  inside  of  the  knee  of 
the  fore  leg. 


Mange, 


Marasmus,  - 
Megrims,    - 


Moon  Blindness, 

Nasal  Gleet, 


-  A  pimpled  eruption  on  the  skin,  with  increasing 

scabs. 

-  A  decay  or  wasting  of  the  whole  body. 

-  A  determination  of  blood  to  the  head,  causing 

temporary  unconsciousness,  and  often  causing 
the  horse  to  stagger  or  fall. 

-  See  Ophthalmia. 

-  An  increased  and  thickened  discharge  from  the 

nostrils. 


GLOSSARY  OF   DISEASES. 


871 


Nasal  Polypus,  - 
Navicular  Disease, 

Ophthalmia,   -    - 

Overreaching,    -    ■ 

Palsy, 

Poll  Evil,  -    -    -    - 
Pumiced  Foot,     -    - 

QUITTOR,      -     -     -     - 
QUIDDING  THE  FoOD, 

Quarter  Crack,  -    - 

Rabies, 

Ringbone,  -    -    -    - 

Roaring,    -    -    -    - 
Rupture,    -    -    ,    - 


A  tumor  hanging  by  a  nick  from  the  lining  of 
the  nostril. 

Injflammation,  or  anchylosis  (growing  together) 
at  the  joint  formed  by  the  coffin-bone  and  the 
lower  pastern-bone,  in  connection  with  the 
navicular-bone. 

An  inflammation  of  the  eye  which  recurs  at 
regular  intervals,  and  terminates  in  total 
blindness  of  one  or  both  eyes.  It  is  some- 
times called  "  Moon  blindness." 

Striking  the  fore  legs  with  the  shoe  of  the  hind 
foot  in  travelling. 

A  suspension  of  the  nervous  influence  over  the 
muscles. 

An  inflammation  at  the  top  of  the  head,  re- 
sulting from  a  bruise  or  gall  of  that  part. 

A  foot  of  which  the  sole,  in  consequence  of 
disease,  descends  to  a  level  with  or  below  the 
wall  of  the  hoof. 

A  deeply  seated  ulceration  in  the  foot,  resulting 
from  a  neglected  or  badly  treated  wound. 

Dropping  the  partly  chewed  food  ;  an  indication 
of  sore  throat. 

See  Sand  Crack. 

Hydrophobia. 

A  bony  enlargement  of  the  pastern  near  the 
foot. 

Noisy  inspiration,  resulting  from  an  obstruc- 
tion of  the  air  passages  of  the  throat  or 
lungs. 

See  Hernia. 


872 


GLOSSARY   OF  DISEASES. 


EUPTUEE  OF  THE  SuS- 

PENSOEY  Ligament, 


Sallendees,    - 
Sand  Ceack,  - 


SCOUEING, 

SiTFAST,  - 


Spavin,  -    - 
Speedy  Cut, 


Splint,  oe  S'plent,  - 


Staggees,  -    -    - 

Staling,  Peofuse, 
Steangles,      -    - 


Steanguey,     -    - 
Steing  Halt,  -    - 


Suepeit, 


Breaking  of  the  ligament  by  which  the  sescu 
moids,  two  small  bones  on  the  back  part  of 
the  pastern-joint  are  kept  in  place. 

Scurfy  eruptions  on  the  inside  of  the  hock-joint 
of  the  hind  leg. 

A  separation  of  the  laminae  of  the  hoof,  forming 
a  crack  up  and  down  its  wall ;  when  it  occurs 
in  the  front  part  of  the  hoof  it  is  called  "  toe 
crack  ;"  when  on  one  side,  "  quarter-crack." 

Looseness  of  the  bowels. 

A  hardened  integument  on  the  back,  resulting 

from  an  obstinate  saddle  gall. 
See  Bone  Spavin. 
A  wound  on  the  inside  of  the  fore  leg,  near  the 

kneee,  made  by  the  striking  of  the  shoe  of  the 

opposite  foot  in  fast  travelling. 

A  bony  enlargement  on  the  side  of  the  leg  be- 
low the  knee  or  hock. 

See  Megrims. 

An  excessive  discharge  of  urine. 

A  disease,  sometimes  called  "  colt  distemper." 
A  tumor  forms  under  the  jaw,  and  breathing 
is  rendered  difficult ;  in  time  the  tumor  breaks 
and  the  patient  recovers. 

''Inflammation  or  spasmodic  affection  of  the 
neck  and  bladder." 

A  sudden  jerking  up  of  one  or  both  of  the  hind 
legs,  not  entirely  involuntarily,  but  to  a 
greater  height  than  is  natural,  or  than  is  in- 
tended by  the  horse. 

A  disease  much  resembling  mange,  but  usually 
commencing  on  the  neck.  It  arises  in,  or  is 
accompanied  by,  a  closing  of  the  pores  of  the 
skin  of  the  affected  part. 


GLOSSARY   OF  DISEASES. 


373 


Tetanus,    -    - 
Thick-wind,    - 

Thorough-fin, 


Thrush, 

Toe  Crack, 
Tread,   -    • 


Warbles,   -    -  -    - 

Washiness,     -  -    - 

Water-farcy,  -    - 

Wheezing,  -    -  -    - 

Wind,  Broken,  -    - 

Whirlbone      Lame- 
ness, -    -    -  -    - 


Locked  jaw. 

Laborious  breathing,  resulting  from  a  diminished 

capacity  of  the  lungs  after  disease. 
A  sort  of  wind-gall,  or  swelling  upon  the  hock, 

and  between  the  cord  and  the  bone.     It  can 

be  pressed  through  from  side  to  side. 
A  softening  of  the  frog  of  the  foot,  accompanied 

by  an  offensive  discharge  of  pus. 

See  Sand  Crack. 

A  wound  of  the  coronet,  inflicted  by   other 

feet. 
Lumps  in  the  back,  resulting  from  neglected 

saddle-galls. 
Looseness  of  the  bowels. 

Local  dropsy  in  the  cellular  membrane,  resulting 
from  general  debility. 
.    Asthmatic  breathing. 
See  Broken  Wind. 


Lameness  of  the  hip-joint. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

CARRIAGES. 

STYLE  OF  CARRIAGES  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES  — HOW  TO  BUY  A  CARRIAGE — 
MUST  BE  ADAPTED  TO  ITS  PURPOSE— THE  "WHEEL — THE  HUB — THE  SPOKES — 
THE  TIRE — THE  AXLE— THE  SPRINGS — THE  SHAFTS  AND  POLE— THE  BODY — 
THE  TOP — THE  LEATHER — THE  PLATING — THE  TRIMMING — THE  PAINT- 
ING—HINTS ON  COLORS— HARMONY  OF  COLOR  IN  THE  TRIMMINGS  WITH 
ladies'  COMPLEXION  AND  DRESS— THE  CARE  OF  THE  CARRIAGE— WASH- 
ING— LUBRICATING  —REPAIRING. 

In  a  countrj  wliere  riding  in  carriages  is  an  almost  uni- 
versal custom  among  those  who  can  afford  to  keep  a  horse, 
the  selection  of  a  carriage,  and  the  manner  of  taking  care 
of  it,  are  subjects  of  no  small  importance. 

The  vehicle,  as  soon  as  it  rises  above  the  condition  of  a 
^'  business  wagon,"  and  is  constructed  with  a  view  to  com- 
fort, or  elegance  of  appearance,  and  assumes  the  character 
of  a  "carriage,"  becomes  an  article  of  luxury,  although 
by  no  means  a  useless  one;  and  its  selection  is  a  question 
which  should  exercise  both  the  j  udgment  and  the  taste  of 
the  purchaser. 

No  carriage  can  really  look  well  if  it  does  not  look  ser- 
viceable. If  for  heavy  work,  it  must  be  strong  and 
appear  strong,  without  appearing  heavy  or  unwieldy.  If 
for  light  work,  it  can  hardly  appear  too  light ;  for  it  is  so 
generally  known  that  delicately-made  carriages  may  be 
very  strong,  that  the  light  appearance  does  not  convey 
an  idea  of  weakness.  If  the  carriage  be  intended  to  make 
a  rich  display,  it  will  be  most  beautifully  finished  when 
most  richly  decorated.     If  to  be  used  by  persons  of  mod- 

[874] 


STYLE.  375 

est  and  retiring  habit,  it  will  be  most  beautifully  finished 
when  it  exhibits  great  simplicit}^,  or  an  entire  absence  of 
decoration.  A  royal  state  carriage,  and  a  simple  coup6 
are  both  beautiful,  though  Avidely  different.  The  simple 
vehicle  will  usually  be  the  most  elegant,  and  the  error,  if 
any,  should  be  oq  the  safe  side. 

The  style  of  carriages  in  the  United  States  is,  for  all 
descriptions,  much  lighter  in  appearance  and  in  reality, 
than  in  England.  Something  is  undoubtedly  sacrificed 
on  the  score  of  strength  and  durability  to  this  taste,  but 
as  it  cannot  be  supposed  that  Young  America  will,  for  this 
generation  at  least,  be  content  to  drag  about  heavy  lumber- 
ing carriages  of  the  European  style,  we  may  find  some  com- 
pensation for  the  sacrifice  in  the  fact,  that  what  is  lost  in 
wear  of  the  carriage  is  gained  in  horse-flesh,  and  in  the 
speed  and  despatch  with  which  our  business,  and  even  our 
pleasure-driving  is  accomplished, — while  we  may  justly 
pride  ourselves  on  having  arrived  more  nearly  at  the  maxi- 
mum of  strength  for  a  minimum  weight  of  wood  and 
iron,  than  any  other  people. 

Economy  and  safety  demand  that  the  purchaser  assure 
himself  that  the  carriage  is  sufficiently  strong,  and  well 
made  for  the  service  for  which  it  is  required.  If  intended 
for  use  on  city  pavements  or  in  stony  districts,  it  must  be 
of  the  best  possible  quality  of  material  and  workmanship, 
and  a  little  extra  weight  in  the  wheels  and  axles  is  desir- 
able. In  all  streets  paved  with  stone,  there  are  so  many 
inequalities,  and  so  many  unyielding  obstacles  to  the 
smooth  moving  of  the  wheels,  that  a  single  stick  of  un- 
sound wood  will  usually  soon  make  itself  known,  a  bad 
tire  will  most  likely  be  broken,  a  bad  bolt  will  become 
loose  or  bent,  and  a  bad  spring  will  either  be  broken,  or 
lose  its  shape  and  elasticity.  Of  two  carriages  of  exactly 
the  s^me   appearance,  and  in   precisely  the  same  service, 


376  CARRIAGES. 

one  will  last  for  years,  while  the  other  will  give  signs  of 
dissolution  in  a  month. 

In  these  hints  to  those  who  would  purchase  a  carriage 
either  ready  made  or  made  to  order,  we  would  not  claim 
that  any  one,  however  experienced,  can  avoid  being 
cheated  if  he  fall  into  the  hands  of  a  dishonest  maker, 
who  has  no  regard  for  his  reputation.  In  a  hundred 
things  can  the  purchaser  be  deceived  ;  the  quality  of  iron 
and  steel — of  the  wood  and  leather — of  the  paint* and  var- 
nish even — can  only  be  tested  by  actual  use ;  and  the  car- 
riage-maker himself  has  to  depend  in  a  great  degree  on 
the  "  brand"  or  the  reputation  of  the  manufacturers, 
for  the  quality  of  many  of  the  materials.  Much  more, 
then,  must  the  purchaser  of  a  carriage,  which,  when  it  is 
delivered  to  him,  is  covered  up  with  paint  and  trimmings, 
depend  on  the  character  of  the  carriage  manufacturer  or 
merchant. 

To  those  who  would  buy  a  carriage,  our  advice  then  is : 

First — Make  the  most  diligent  investigation  into  the 
character  of  the  firm  with  whom  you  deal ;  if  possible, 
obtain  the  opinion  of  those  who  have  dealt  with  them  pre- 
viously, as  to  their  reliability ;  and  when  you  are  satisfied 
on  this  point,  do  not  let  an  undue  suspicion  prevent  your 
asking  and  following  their  advice — obtaining,  when  you 
can,  a  full  guarantee  for  at  least  one  year,  against  all  de- 
fects or  breakages,  accidents  excepted.  Do  not  hope  to 
buy  a  good  carriage  at  a  very  low  price.  A  dealer  who 
professes  to  sell  at  cost  is  always  to  be  suspected.  A  well- 
made  carriage  is  always  cheaper  than  one  poorly  made,  at 
any  difference  in  price. 

Second — Consider  well  the  purpose  for  which  you  re- 
quire a  carriage,  and  the  character  of  the  roads  on  which 
it  will  be  used,  and  let  your  selection  be  carefully  made  in 
reference  thereto.     The  weight  of  the  carriage,  the«thick- 


VARIETIES.  377 

ness  of  tlie  tire  and  felloes,  size  of  the  wheel,  strength  of 
the  iron  work,  the  stiffness  of  the  springs,  materials  for 
the  trimmings,  the  plating,  the  leather — all  should  cor- 
respond with  the  intended  use.  A  desire  for  ornament, 
or  a  fine  appearance,  should  never  lead  you  to  buy  a  fine 
carriage  for  a  vehicle  of  all  work.  A  "  shabby  gentility" 
will  be  the  result  after  the  gloss  is  worn  away.  If  a  nice 
carriage  is  required  for  occasional  use,  while  there  is 
also  a  necessity  for  driving  during  bad  weather  and  on 
bad  roads,  it  is  poor  economy  to  try  to  make  one  vehicle 
answer  all  purposes.  A  second,  more  strongly  made, 
with  more  durable  trimmings,  must  be  provided,  or  the 
finer  one  will  soon  expose  your  want  of  judgment. 

VARIETIES   OF   CARRIAGES. 

The  Coach  (Figure  55). — All  panelled  carriages  with 
seats  for  four  persons  inside,  and  an  elevated  coachman's 
seat,  are  designated  coaches.  The  town  coach  proper,  has 
windows  in  the  doors,  and  one  in  each  end,  the  quarters 
being  panelled.  The  most  elegant  coaches  of  this  kind  have 
a  full  sweep  in  the  lower  line  of  the  body,  although  the  out- 
lines are  varied  to  please  individual  taste.  For  many  pur- 
poses windows  in  the  quarters  are  deemed  desirable.  For 
country  use,  leather  curtains  in  the  quarters,  instead  of  pan- 
els, are  becoming  popular.  For  cold  weather  the  curtains 
may  be  "  squabbed  "  on  the  inside,  and  rendered  perfectly 
warm,  while,  in  summer,  by  rolling  up  the  curtains,  the 
comfort  and  convenience  of  an  open  carriage  may  be  ob- 
tained. A  full  sized  town  coach  weighs  about  1500  lbs. 
Price,  $900  to  $1200.  The  one  from  which  our  figure  is 
taken*  is  finished  in  the  best  style,  and  would  command 
the  highest  price.  A  curtain-quarter  coach,  for  road  use, 
may  weigh  1200  lbs. ;  price,  $750  to  $900. 

*  From  the  extensive  mauufactory  of  Messrs.  G.  &  D.  Cook,  New  Haven. 


CARRIAGES. 


The  Caleche  (Figure  06)  is  of  Frencli  origin ;  a  carriage 
with  leather  top,  and  portable  glass  shutters  on  the  sides, 
and  a  panelled  front,  with  sliding  window.  The  whole 
front  may  be  removed  in  a  few  minutes,  making  it  an 
elegant  open  Barouche,  with  a  half-top  over  the  back  seat. 
No  carriage  is  so  desirable  for  winter  and  summer  use. 
They  are  made  for  four  persons  inside.  Weight,  about 
1350  lbs.,  J^vith  the  front.  Cost,  about  $75  more  than  a 
coach  of  the  same  quality. 

The  Landau  is  similar  to  the  Caleche,  without  the 
portable  front  and  glass  sides ;  the  entire  top  being  of 
leather,  supported  by  folding  joints  in  each  quarter.  The 
top  may  be  divided  in  the  centre,  the  whole  falling  front 
and  back.  These  are  complex  in  construction  and  liable 
to  get  out  of  order,  which  prevents  their  popular  use. 
Weight  and  cost  about  the  same  as  a  caleche. 

The  Barouche  (Figure  57)  is  made  for  four  persons 
inside,  and  has  an  elevated  coachman's  seat ;  leat^her  half- 
top  over  the  back 
seat,  or  an  extension 
top,  covering  the  four 
inside  seats.  The  lat- 
ter form  is  desirable 
f)r  country  use,  as 
it  affords  protection 
from  the  sun  and 
rain.  The  half- top,  for 
morning  and  evening 
drives,  is  much  liked: 
the  top  being  thrown  down,  the  carriage  presents  an  ele- 
gant appearance,  and  affords  an  opportunity  for  the  display 
of  full  dress — hence  it  is  popular  with  visitors  at  watering- 
places  and  public  parks.  Weighs  about  1100  lbs.  Cost, 
$750. 


Fig.  57. — The  Barouche. 


VARIETIES. 


379 


A  smaller  Barouche  is  made  to  carry  four  persons,  in- 
cluding the  driver,  of  less  pretension  and  much  cheaper 
and  lighter,  with  an  extension  leather  top  (covering  four 
seats),  which  may  be  thrown  back  at  pleasure.  It  may  be 
used  with  one  or  two  horses.  Weight,  about  600  lbs. ;  cost, 
$350  to  $400. 

A  Barouche  of  the  smaller  kind  is  made  with  a  "jump- 
seat,"  so  that  it  may  be  in  a  few  seconds  converted  into 
a  buggy,  with  seats  for  two  persons.  There  are  some  objec- 
tions to  this  mongrel,  such  as  its  liability  to  get  out  of 
order  ;  and  it  is  not  possible  to  have  the  springs  and  other 
parts  of  the  carriage  well  adapted  to  a  huggy  and  yet 
capable  of  doing  double  duty  when  required.  It  is,  how- 
ever, often  convenient,  and  will  be  much  used.  Messrs.  Gr. 
&  D.  Cook,  of  New  Haven,  have  just  brought  out  a  new 
style,  shown  in  Figs.  58  &  59,  with  an  adjustable  seat  and 
extension  top, — the  latter  feature  being  new,  and  a  great 
addition  to  the  value  of  this  vehicle. 

The  Coupe,  or  Brougham.— A  half-coach  body  (Fig. 
60),  for  two  persons 
inside,  and  an  elevat- 
ed coachman's  seat; 
very  popular  in  Eu- 
rope, and  now  becom- 
ing popular  here. 
They  are  used  in  Eu- 
rope with  one  horse 
only ;  here  with  one 

or  two  horses.  Weight  Fig.  eo.— Coupe,  or  Brougham. 

800  to  1000  lbs. ;  price,  about  $700. 

The  Rockaway. — A  Rockaway  proper,  has  a  plain 
square  or  straight  body,  with  standing  top  and  leather 
curtains,  to  roll  up ;  for  either  four  or  six  persons ;  all 
seats  on  a  level.     Of  late  years,  all  vehicles  with  standing 


880  CAERIAGES. 

top  and  seats  on  a  level  are  called  Eockaways.  Some  are 
made  for  six  persons,  with  panelled  sides  and  glass  windows, 
wliicli  approach  nearly  to  a  coach  in  weight  and  cost.  The 
following  styles  of  Eockaways  are  in  general  nse  : 

The  square  four  seat  Rochaway^  for  one  horse.  Weight, 
about  500  lbs.     Cost,  from  $200  to  $300. 

The  same  for  six  persons  and  two  horses.  Weight,  about 
700  lbs.     Price,  $350  to  $400. 

The  six-seat  Oermantown  Rockaway  has  the  body  slightly 
curved.     Weight,  say  800  lbs.     Cost,  $450. 

The  Conine  Rochaioay^  for  four  persons,  with  a  partition ; 
having  windows  to  divide  the  front  and  back  seats  ;  body 
curved,  with  windows  or  curtain  in  sides.  Weight,  about 
700  lbs.     Price,  from  $350  to  $500. 

The  Brett. — A  Brett  proper,  is  a  French  half-top 
Barouche,  with  all  the  lines  of  the  body  at  right  angles. 
They  are  generally  made  with  four  inside  seats,  and  elevat- 
ed coachman's  seat.     Weight,  about  800  lbs.     Cost,  $650. 

The  form  more  familiarly  known  in  this  country  as  a 
Brett,  resembles  that  of  the  English  Barouche,  except  it 
has  only  a  half-top.  Of  this  style  we  give  an  illustration 
in  Fig.  61. 

The  I  H^TON. — There  is  an  infinite  variety  of  PhjBtons. 
As  originally  made,  they  have  seats  for  four,  with  a  port- 
able half-top,  or  without  a  top.  Some  are  hung  on  j^lat- 
form  springs  without  a  perch ;  others  on  two  springs  with 
a  perch.  They  are  also  made  with  a  comfortable  front 
seat,  having  a  leather  top,  and  a  smaller  seat  behind  for  a 
servant  only.  The  varieties  in  use  are :  The  "  Mail 
Phaeton,''  the  ''Park  Phcdon,''  the  ''Sylph  PAce/o??,"  the 
"  Copcut,''  the  ''Victoria^"  and  the  "  Pony  Phoiton:'  Price, 
from  $350  to  $650. 

A  form  of  Phaaton,  very  common  and  popular,  has  seats 
for  two.     The  Queen's  Photon  (Fig.  62)  is  a  good  carriage 


VARIETIES. 


381 


for  old  people,  or  for  ladies'  use,  being  wide  and  roomy, 
hung  low,  and  the  top  coming  well  over  the  seat.  Price, 
$250  to  $300.  There  is  a  form  of  this  buggy-phaeton,  with 
a  close  Boston  top,  well  adapted  for  Physicians'  use. 

The  Buggy. — Of  this  kind  there  is  a  great  variety. 
All,  however,  have  four  wheels,  and  seats  for  two  persons. 
They  are  made  of  every  conceivable  form,  both  with  and 
without  a  top  ;  at  all  prices,  varying  from  $75  to  $400. 

The  Yictoria  Buggy  (Fig.  63)  is  one  of  the  prettiest 
styles,  showy  and  of  graceful  form.  As  usually  finished, 
it  sells  for  $150  to  $175. 

Our  Figure  64  represents  a  plainly  finished  but  fine 
vehicle,  costing  from  $175  to  $225. 

Figure  65  is  \vhat  the  Messrs.  Cook  call  the  World's 
Fair  Buggy,  having  taken  the  medal  there,  and  can  be 
made  for  from  $250  to  $500. 

For  buggies  without  tops  we  give  Fig.  66— a  very  light 
trotting  wagon  of  145  lbs.;  Fig.  67,  the  light  Concord 


Fig.  68.— Skeleton  Wagon. 

buggy ;  and  Fig.  68,  a  skeleton  wagon  for  use  upon  the 
track. 

The  Dog-Cart,  is  made  with  two  or  four  wheels.  The 
original  English  Dog-Cart  is  on  two  wheels.  Fig.  69,  the 
body  being  nearly  square,  and  carrying  four  persons.     The 


382  CARRIAGES. 

back  end  of  the  body  is  made  to  drop  and  form  a  foot- 
board ;  tbe  persons  on  the  front  and  back  seats  riding  back 
to  back.  The  sides  are  generally  made  with  blinds  or  lattice 
work,  to  accommodate  dogs,  when  used  for  sporting  pur- 


Fig.  69.— Dog  Cart. 

poses.  Two-wheel  dog-carts  weigh  about  450  lbs.  Cost 
about  $275.  On  four  wheels  they  weigh  about  600  lbs. 
Cost  about  $450. 

The  Jagger  Wagon  is  for  two  persons.  The  body 
is  attached  to  axles  without  springs.  Weight,  200  lbs. 
Price,  $100  to  $125. 

construction — the  wheel. 

The  Hub  of  the  wheel  being  at  once  its  centre  and  foun- 
dation, mechanically  speaking,  should  be  particularly  strong 
and  of  well-seasoned  wood.  Red  elm,  white  elm,  and 
particularly  the  gum,  are  good  timber  for  this  part,  as 
they  are  not  liable  to  crack  in  seasoning,  or  to  split  by  the 
pressure  of  the  spokes.  The  modern  form  of  the  hub 
is  much  shorter  than  that  used  even  a  dozen  years  ago, 
and  though  it  may  have  some  advantages  in  crowded 
thoroughfares,  where,  as  on  Broadway,  New  York,  col- 
lisions are  frequent,  it  is  undoubtedly  a  change  for  the 
worse,  so  far  as  strength  is  concerned,  as  it  gives  a  shorter 
hold  to  the  axle. 


CONSTRUCTION. 

The  Spokes  should,  for  heavy  work,  be  made  of  white 
oak  of  clear  grain,  and  free  from  checks  or  knots — for 
light  carriages  hickory  is  preferable — fourteen  in  the  fore 
wheel  and  sixteen  in  the  hind  wheel,  except  in  vehicles  of 
the  lighter  kinds,  when  two  less  in  each  wheel  will  answer. 
If  the  tenon  or  ''  tang,"  which  is  inserted  in  the  felloe,  is 
square  instead  of  round,  it  will  greatly  add  to  the  strength, 
though  few  makers  are  found  who  will  take  this  trouble. 
Every  spoke  which  is  discovered  to  be  defective,  in  any- 
way, should  be  scrupulously  rejected  by  the  carriage- 
maker;  for  one  bad  spoke  will  spoil  the  wheel.  In  a 
business  wagon,  the  spokes  should  be  set  in  the .  hub  in 
range,  or  in  a  straight  line,  while  in  a  buggy  or  light  car- 
riage, they  should  be  placed  alternately,  in  and  out,  that 
the  weakness  caused  by  their  light  construction  may  be 
compensated  for  by  the  bracing  position,  Avhich  this  zig- 
zag position  affords. 

The  Felloes  or  Rim. — This  part  of  the  wheel  should 
be  of  the  best  eastern  white  ash  or  hickory  (the  western 
growth  is  softer  and  less  tough).  Oak  is  often  used  for 
this  purpose,  but  is  much  more  liable  to  sun  checks,  and 
will  split  more  easily,  and  is  more  apt  to  break  in  at  the 
joints.  For  pleasure  carriages,  which  are  kept  well 
painted,  and,  for  the  most  part,  secure  from  the  weather, 
the  bent  rim  is  better  than  the  short  pieces  or  sawn, 
felloes ;  but  for  business  wagons,  or  those  much  ex- 
posed to  the  sun  and  rain,  with  the  paint  not  always  in 
the  best  condition,  and  which  require  a  more  frequent 
resetting  of  the  tire  and  the  consequent  cutting  of  the  ends 
of  the  felloe-sections,  it  is  better  not  to  be  obliged  so  often 
to  cut  the  same  ends,  as  is  the  case  when  there  are  only 
two  pieces.  There  are  always,  when  the  felloes  are  sawn^ 
two  spokes  to  each  section. 

The  wheels  should,  in  all  cases,  be  dished,  as  this  adds 


384  CAERIAGES. 

much  to  their  strength  and  durability.  A  light  wheel  for 
road  wagons,  4  feet  in  diameter,  should  dish  about  f  to  I 
inch ;  and  coach  wheels,  3  ft.  6  in.  in  diameter,  should  dish  J 
inch,  the  measurements  being  taken,  in  both  cases,  after  the 
tire  has  been  set. 

The  Tire. — It  is  upon  this  part  of  the  wheel  that  most 
of  the  wear  comes,  and  if  defects  exist  here,  no  excellence 
in  the  other  parts  will  be  of  any  avail.  The  important 
points  in  a  good  tire  are,  that  it  should  be  made  of  good 
iron,  that  it  should  be  the  size  best  adapted  to  the  vehicle 
on  which  it  is  to  be  used,  and  that  it  be  "set"  well,  nei- 
ther so  tight  as  to  draw  the  wheel  out  of  shape,  or  so 
loose  as  to  allow  any  racking  of  the  spokes.  The  tires 
should  be  made  of  Ulster  iron,  or  the  best  English  re- 
fined iron.  Ordinary  steel  tires,  though  thrice  as  durable 
as  iron,  are  apt  to  snap  in  frosty  weather.  Imported 
*'  homogeneous"  steel  is  now  being  successfully  used  in 
light  vehicles;  but  its  cost  (16c.  per  lb.)  precludes  its 
use  on  heavy  wheels.  It  is  very  durable,  and  remarkably 
tough. 

Flat  tire  is  the  best  for  all  purposes ;  convex  tire  is 
satisfactorily  used  on  the  flat,  hard  roads  of  Europe,  but 
they  are  not  adapted  to  American  use.  Heavy  tire  on 
light  rimmed  wheels  is  objectionable,  for  the  reason  that  it 
breaks  down  the  felloes.  All  tires  yield,  more  or  less,  to 
sudden  concussions;  if  heavy,  it  retains  its  bent  form, 
while,  if  light,  it  is  forced  back  to  its  proper  position  by 
the  spring  of  the  felloes.  Wide  tires  are  desirable  on  soft 
roads,  being  less  likely  to  cut  in  (causing  the  carriage  to 
run  heavily,  and  injuring  the  road,)  than  narrower  tires. 
All  tires  should  be  fastened  on  with  bolts,  one  between 
each  two  spokes. 


THE  AXLE.  385 


THE  AXLE. 


Since  the  general  introduction  of  the  iron  axle,  the 
wooden  axle  has  gone  out  of  use,  except  for  the  heaviest 
description  of  wagons  for  the  farm,  or  other  heavy  work. 

Axles  may  be  either  straight,  arched,  or  cranked ;  the 
arched  form,  which  is  essential  for  all  very  light  axles, 
being  stronger  than  straight  ones,  though  a  very  slight 
arch  answers  the  purpose.  Cranked  axles  are  adopted  for 
the  purpose  of  allowing  the  body  to  hang  low.  Particu- 
lar care  should  be  given  to  setting  the  axles  exactly  at 
a  right  angle  to  the  line  of  travel.  Any  deviation  from 
this  rule  causes  undue  friction  to  the  arm  of  the  axle  and 
the  hub,  and  places  the  wheel  in  a  position  to  receive  more 
injury  from  concussions,  and  to  be  more  easily  wrenched 
out  of  its  proper  shape  than  when  properly  directed.* 

The  Patent  Axle,  or  as  it  is  sometimes  called  the  Mail 
Axle  is  represented  in  Figure  70, 
a  is  the  arm  of  the  axle,  around  which 
the  hub  revolves  ;  6  is  a  shoulder 
which  serves  to  keep  the  hub  in 
place  ;  c  is  a  circular  iron  plate, 
having  through  its  centre  a  hole  to 
fit  the  arm  of  the  axle,  behind  the 
shoulder,    where    it    revolves ;    it    is       B'  "  ^ 

secured  to  the  inside  end  of  the  Imb 
by  the  long  bolts,  e  e,  which  run 
through  the  entire  hub  and  the  plate 
d.  There  is  a  washer,  which  should 
be    of    hard    sole-leather,    nicely    a']-  Fw.  to. -The  Patent  Axie. 

*Thes'i  remarks  do  not  refer  lo  the  slight  "gather"  which  is  IVequently 
given  to  wheels,  to  cause  them  to  crowd  slightly  toward  the  carriage, 
rather  than  to  run  against  the  nuts  at  the  end  of  the  axle. 

17 


386 


CAREIAGES. 


justed  to  t"he  proper  thickness,  on  eacli  side  of  tlie 
shoulder,  to  prevent  the  wear  of  the  boxes  and  plate  against 
the  shoulder.  On  taking  off  the  wheel,  the  nuts,  before- 
mentioned,  are  removed  with  a  wrench,  and  the  hub  is 
drawn  off  the  end  of  the  axle,  leaving  the  plate  c  remain- 
ing upon  the  axle.  The  leather  washers  require  to  be 
occasionally  renewed,  if  they  wear  so  thin  as  to  give  too 
much  lateral  motion  to  the  hub. 

This  form  of  axle  has  many  advantages,  among  which 
are :  that  it  prevents  rattling,  or  the  lateral  motion  of  the 
wheel ;  it  is  safer,  for  if  the  axle  break  at  any  point  be- 
yond the  shoulder,  the  wheel  is  still  retained  in  its  place 
by  the  plate  behind  the  shoulder ;  it  forms  a  tight  space 
about  the  ajm  of  the  axle  for  the  lubricating  oil,  excluding 
grit  or  other  substances  which  would  cut  away  the  axle. 
Its  great  disadvantage  for  small  hubs  is,  that  it  is  necessary 
to  cut  away  so  much  of  the  hub  in  boring  for  the  bolts 
that  it  is  weakened.  This  is,  however,  very  greatly  obvi- 
ated by  the  patent  of  E.  M.  Stratton,   the  gentlemanly 


Fig.  71.— a  longitudinal  section  of  Stratton's  Patent  Axle  and  Box. 

a  The  ax'e ;  b  The  box  inserted  on  the  hub  c ;  d-^  are  spaces  for  lioldin-  the  oil ;  ^  The 

shoulder  of  the  axle;  /The  plate  attached  to  the  inner  end  of  the  hub;  r/  The 

bolts  winch  pass  through  the  hub  and   the  plate  f,  and  are  secured  by 

tbe  nuts  h.   2  &  3  are  leather  Avashers  on  each  side  of  the  shoulder. 

editor  of  the  Coach  Maker's  Magazine.     The  form  of  hub 
for  this  axle  is  given  in  Fig.  71,  and  its  peculiarity  con.sists 


Fig.  64.      A  Plain  Buggy. 


Fig.  65.     The  World's  Fair  Buggy. 


THE  SPRINGS. 


887 


in  having  tlie  bolts  run  in  a  groove  made  in  the  surface 
of  the  hox,  taking  in  one  half  the  diameter  of  the  bolts. 
This  lessens  the  amount  which  is  necessary  to  be  cut  from 
the  substance  of  the  hub. 

The  Half-Patent  Axle  is  similar  to  the  foregoing, 
but  does  not  retain  the  bolts  and  plate.  The  wheel  is 
secured  by  a  nut  upon  the  end  of  the  axle. 


Fig. 


-C  Spring. 


THE   SPRINGS. 

These  are  of  many  kinds.  The  old  C  spring  (Fig.  72), 
the  cradle  spring  (Fig.  73),  the  elliptic  spring,  (Figs.  74  and 
75),  the  shackle  spring  (Figs.  76 
&  77),  and  the  platform  spring. 
That  in  most  common  use,  and 
by  far  the  best  for  ordinary  pur- 
poses, is  tlie  elliptic  spring,  of 
which  those  shaped  like  Fig.  74 
are  better  than  those  like  Fig. 75. 
It  is  of  the  first  importance 
that  the  springs  should  be  <)f 
the  proper  degree  of 
stiffness  required  by  the 
weight  of  the  carriage, 
and  the  number  of  pei-- 
sons  they  are  intended 
to  bear ;  if  too  stiff,  they 
will  "ride  hard"  and 
cause  great  discomfort ; 
or  if  they  are  not  stiff 
enough  they  will  col- 
lapse or  break.  The 
stiffness  is  regulated  by 
the  thickness  of  the  steel 

used,  the  length    of   the  Fig.  75.— ElUptic  spring  -bad  shape. 


Fig.  73. — Thu  Cradle  Spring. 


Fig.  74.— Elliptic  Spring— good  shape. 


888 


CARRIAGES. 


r  (.. 


.-     1)  c     0     nriiu 


Fig.  77.— Shackle  Spring. 

little  higher  than  the  hind  end. 


spring,  and  the  width 
and  n  amber  of  leaves  or 
plates.  The  bod}-  should 
be  set  on  the  springs 
a  little  inchned  back- 
wards as  the  tendency  is 
to  "run forward"  in  use. 
And  in  the  coach,  the 
forward  end  of  the 
springs  should,  for  the 
same   reason,  be  set  a 


TABLE   OF   DIMENSIONS  OF    PARTS   OF   THE   WHEELS   OF 
DIFFERENT  VEHICLES. 


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Kind  of  Vehicle. 

t^x; 

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inch. 

inch. 

ins. 

Coach 

5 

11 

*  a 
1^- 

3  ft.  4 
3ft  4 

4  ft.  2 
4  ft.  2 

14&16    1^ 
14&16'   U 

9 

Rockaway 

8 

Buffffv 

4f 

u 

1  . 

X    1 

3  ft.  10 

4  ft.  ■' 

16            1^ 

6-^ 

Trotting   wagon  or 

1 

Light  Buggy.  .  . . 

1 

im 

ii 

IH    -»•        8 

4ft. 

4  ft    ' 

16         1     I 

6 

Doctor's  Gig 

;  5^ 

u 

1| 

X    1 

3  ft.  4 

4  ft. 

14&16    1| 

8 

Sulkey 

^ 

1 

w 

Is 

|x  1 

4  ft.  10 

18             1 

6', 

TABLE   OF   DIMENSIONS. 


TABLE   OF  DIMENSIONS  (iN   INCHES)   OF   SPRINGS   FOR 
DIFFERENT   VEHICLES. 


Kind  of  Vehicle. 


Coach , 

Kockaway .... 

Buggy 

Trotting  Wagon  or 
Light  Buggy 


Length. 

Width. 

No.  of 
Leaves. 

44  incs. 

2i 

6 

40     " 

2 

5 

38     '' 

Ij 

4 

8;    " 

M 

3 

Size  of 
Steel. 


No.  2  &  4 
"    3&4 

"    4 


The  bodies  of  town  carriages  with  low  wheels,  should 
be  hung  low  ;  for  country  use  bodies  should  be  hung  high, 
and  high  wheels  used.  The  draught  is  less  when  so 
hung.  When  the  diameter  of  the  wheels  will  permit,  the 
springs  are  best  hung  on  the  under  side  of  the  axle,  as  in 
this  position  they  keep  better  in  place,  having  less  ten- 
dency to  pitch  forward.  The  use  of  springs  on  even  the 
heavier  description  of  wagons,  except  where  subjected  to 
excessive  loads  or  very  rough  usage,  is  desirable,  as  it 
lessens  the  wear  on  all  parts  of  the  vehicle,  and  makes  a 
lighter  draught. 

Shafts. — The  best  wood  from  which  to  make  shafts  is 
hickory.  It  is,  however,  more  affected  by  wet  than  ash 
or  oak.  Second  growth  eastern  ash  makes  very  good 
shafts  ;  but  oak,  except  for  heavy  work,  in  which  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  timber  is  allowable,  will  be  deficient 
in  stiffness.  For  such  heavy  work  it  is  the  best,  as  it  is 
the  most  durable,  wood  used  in  carriage-making.  Shafts 
for  light  wagons  are  generally  steamed  and  bent  to  such 
form  as  is  required.     They  should  be  bowed  out  widely  at 


890 


CARRIAGES. 


the  rear,  and  in  front  should  turn  well  out,  away  from  the 
horse's  shoulders. 

The  Pole  for  light  wagons  should  be  of  hickory, 
steamed  and  bent ;  coach  poles,  of  second  growth  eastern 
ash, — oak,  when  made  up  in  this  size,  being  apt  to  warp. 
But  for  farm  wagons,  omnibuses,  stages,  &c.,  which  admit 
of  more  material  being  used,  oak  is  very  m^uch  the 
best. 

For  the  attachment  of  the  Shafts  or  Pole  to  the  Axle  there 
have  been  very  many  devices  to  prevent  rattling  and  ac- 
cident ;  but  none  of  them,  for  simplicity  and  cheapness,  com- 
pare with  that  of  Mr.Chapman,  of  Cincinnati.  This  is 
simply  a  piece  of  vulcanized  india-rubbei-,  (see  Figs.  78  and 


Fios.  78  &  79.— Chapman's  Patent  Shaft -Fasten 


Fisr.  67.     A  Light  Concord  Wa":on. 


chapman's  patent  shaft  fasten.  391 

79,)  about  1  inch  square,  grooved  on  one  side,  and  intended 
to  be  placed  between  the  end  of  the  shaft-iron,  and  the  back 
part  of  the  clip  which  is  on  the  axle.  The  shaft  is  then 
forced  back  into  its  place  and  the  bolt  inserted.  The  con- 
stant pressure  prevents  all  rattling  of  the  jack-bolt,  and, 
even  if  the  nut  should  be  lost  off,  which  is  unlikely,  the 
bolt  cannot  rattle  or  slip  out.  It  can  be  applied  to  car- 
riages of  the  ordinary  construction  after  they  are  worn  ?o 
as  to  become  loose. 


For  Coaches. — The  body  frame  work  should  be  made 
of  soft  western  ash ;  the  top  ribs  of  hickory,  ash,  or  maple ; 
the  panels  of  white  wood ;  and  the  roof  of  pine- wood  deal. 
The  ribs  should  be  of  ash,  maple  or  cherry,  and  the 
frame  of  ash  :  hickory  rots  if  much  wet.  The  roof  should 
be  covered  with  canvas,  or,  which  is  better,  with  ordi- 
nary bed-ticking  of  the  best  qualit}^.  Before  this  is  put 
on,  the  roof  should  receive  a  coat  of  pure  white  lead, 
and  the  canvas  then  stretched  tightly  over  it  and  tacked 
fast.  It  should  on  no  account  be  sized,  (as  was  formerly 
the  custom,)  but  should  be  heavily  painted  with  pure 
lead  and  oil. 

For  Tops,  Falls,  etc.,  enamelled  leather  is  now  almost 
universally  used,  and,  though  less  durable  than  the  old 
fashioned  "  oiled  top-leather,"  it  looks  better,  being  black 
and  brilliant,  and  is  not  so  apt  to  shrink.  It  works 
smoother  and  better  than  oiled  leather.  It  is  sometimes, 
however,  badly  enamelled,  and  then  is  apt  to  crack  and 
scale  off — especially  if  moved  or  rolled  up  in  very  cold 
weather.  It  will  then  crack  beyond  restoration  and  will 
look  badh^  Enamelled  leather,  which  has  been  tanned 
with  hemlock,  is  apt  to  stain  the  lining  of  the  top,  or 
fall  when  it  gets  very   wet :  the  best  quality    is   tanned 


892  CARRIAGES. 

with  oak  bark.  Enamelled  clotii  is  made  to  represent 
leather  in  appearance,  and  is  used  for  some  purposes  ad- 
vantageously,— saj  for  carriage  curtains  not  intended  to 
be  rolled  up  often.  Its  chief  recommendation  is  its  cheap- 
ness compared  with  leather  ;  it  is  for  no  purpose  so  good. 

For  the  Dash.,  "grain"  patent  leather  is  best.  Its  quality^ 
may  be  determined  by  its  pliability.  Hard,  stiff  leather 
will  crack  when  exposed  to  heat  an^l  cold.  The  enamel 
should  be  smooth  and  brilliant,  and  show  no  "pitting,"  or 
unevenness  in  polish.  Good  dash-leather  is  jet  black, — 
not  greyish  or  reddish  black. 

Yarnish. — For  the  under  coats,  to  be  "  rubbed,"  Amer- 
ican varnish  answers  every  purpose,  but  for  finishing 
coats,  English  varnish  is  universally  esteemed  as  the 
best.  There  "s  no  way  of  testing  the  durability  of  var- 
nish until  it  is  used  on  the  vehicle.  English  varnish  will 
not  crack,  and  expose  the  paint  and  wood  to  the  action  of 
the  weather, — American  varnish  will  do  so.  Finishing 
coats  are  now  "flowed"  on,  not  polished,  as  formerly,  and 
they  are,  in  consequence,  more  durable. 

Plating. — Xone  but  a  professional  man  can  determine 
the  quality  of  plating.  The  seams  of  good  plating  should 
not  show  prominently ;  "two  and  half  quality"  silver — • 
its  technical  term — is  the  poorest  quality  that  should  be 
used  on  carriages ;  "  three  quality"  is  the  best.  Electro 
plating,  when  well  done,  is  desirable  on  hub-bands  made 
of  German  silver  or  composition  metal,  as  the  bands  will 
not  rust  when  bruised,  nor  does  the  silver  shell  break,  as 
close  plate  on  iron  bands  will  do.  Iron  cannot  be  electro- 
plated with  advantage. 

TRIMMING  AND   PAINTING. 

Trimming. — The  most  durable  material  for  trimming  is 
cloth;  if  in  high  colors,  it  should  be  of  English  manufac- 


HINTS  ON  COLORS.  393 

ture,  as,  in  the  grade  of  cloth  used  for  carriages,  its  colors 
are  more  durable  than  those  of  French  and  German  man- 
afature.  High  colors  in  American  carriage  cloths  will  not 
stand  the  sun. 

The  most  elegant  material  for  coaches  is  "  coteline,"  a 
silk  and  cotton  fabric,  the  best  of  which  is  made  at  Tours, 
in  France.  The  greater  portion  of  that  impoited  to  this 
country  is  made  at  Lyons,  and  it  is  inferior  in  quality  to 
that  made  at  Tours, — the  colors  being  bad,  and  wearing 
badly.  These  goods  are  well  adapted  to  warm  latitudes,  as 
they  do  not,  like  cloths,  harbor  moths.  AVhen  style  and 
elegance  are  chiefly  desired,  these  goods  are  the  most  satis- 
factory; and  when  durability  alone  is  consulted,  cloth  is  best. 

For  stuffing  seats  and  backs,  nothing  but  the  best  curled 
hair  should  be  used.  If  hair  of  inferior  quality  be  mixed 
with  it,  it  will  breed  vermin,  especially  in  damp  situations. 
Curled  hair  keeps  the  seats  elastic. 

HINTS   ON   COLORS. 

A  carriage  body  painted  green  should  never  be  lined  or 
trimmed  with  blue, — it  produces  a  disagreeable  effect. 
Drah,  crimson^  brown  and  clarets,  harmonize  well  with  green 
painting. 

Blue  bodies  should  never  be  trimmed  with  green.  Drab 
and  blue,  and  blue  and  grey,  harmonize  with  blue  bodies. 

Claret  or  Lake  bodies  may  be  trimmed  with  almost  any 
color, — blue  being  the  least  desirable. 

Carpets  should  harmonize  in  color  with  the  trimmings, 
— as  for  instance  : 

Blue  linings  require  blue  and  claret,  blue  and  grey,  or 
two  shades  of  blue  in  the  carpet.     Ked  is  objectionable. 

Drab  linings  look  best  with  blue  crimson  or  green  car- 
pets. 


394  CARRIAGES. 

Green  linings  harmonize  with  carpels  of  crimson,  or 
crimson  and  green. 

Brown  linings  require  brown  and  blue,  brown  and  green, 
or  green  and  black  carpets. 

Claret  linings  require  green  and  crimson,  crimson  and 
black,  or  crimson  and  claret. 

In  carriage  laces  the  same  arrangement  of  colors  as 
has  been  suggested  for  the  carpet  and  linings,  will  be  found 
to  produce  a  pleasing  effect. 

STRIPING  THE   RUNNING  GEAR. 

On  Black,  stripe  with  orange,  blue,  carmine  or  green. 

On  Blue,  with  black,  white  or  grey. 

On  Green^  with  black,  red  or  white. 

On  Orange  or  Yellow,  with  black. 

On  Vermillion,  with  black. 

On  Lakes,  with  black,  carmine  or  green. 

HARMONY   OF  THE   COLORS  IN  THE   TRIMMINGS,   WITH 
THE   COMPLEXION   AND  DRESS   OF   LADIES. 

To  those  who  are  desirous  of  doing  no  violence  to 
the  laws  of  harmony  in  even  the  smallest  particulars, 
the  following  "  hints"  will  be  appreciated. 

Blue,  in  the  trimmings,  harmonizes  with  the  complexion 
of  a  blonde,  while  it  impairs  the  beauty  of  a  brunette  ;  and 
with  a  crimson  dress  or  shawl,  blue  is  decidedly  inharmo- 
nious. 

Crimson,  in  the  trimmings,  suits  well  the  complexion  of 
either  a  blonde  or  a  brunette,  but  the  dress  should  not 
have  blue  as  a  predominating  color. 

Brown  trimmings  are  suitable  for  a  brunette,  and  agree 
with  green  drapery  on  the  person. 


RULES   FOR   PURCHASING.  895 

Green^  in  the  carnage,  demands  warm  tints  in  the  dress, 
and  is  then  harmonious  with  all  complexions. 

Drah  agrees  well  with  all  colors  in  the  dress,  and  with 
all  complexions. 

We  would  sum  up,  then,  the  following 

RULES  TO  BE  OBSERVED  IN  PURCHASING  VEHICLES. 

First.  Choose  for  your  carriage-maker  one  who  has  a 
character  for  fair  dealing  and  good  work. 

Second.  Never  purchase  a  vehicle  made  for  two  horses 
with  the  hope  that  it  will  "do"  for  one  horse.  Your 
mistake  will  be  apparent  when  jou  find  your  horse  failing 
from  over-work. 

Third.  Always  insist  upon  "case-hardened,"  or  steel 
converted  axles.  If  you  have  any  doubts  of  their  quality, 
try  a  file  on  them.     K  "  hard  "  it  will  make  no  impression. 

Fourth.  Insist  upon  "tempered"  springs,  made  from 
English  steel.  Test  your  springs  by  loading  the  carriage 
before  you  buy  it,  and  ascertain  what  weight  they  will 
carry  when  in  use  on  the  road. 

Fifth.  Examine  all  iron  plates,  clips  and  bolts.  If  the 
iron- work  is  not  fitted  to  the  wood  with  exactness,  don't 
buy  the  carriage :  a  poor  workman  has  been  spoiling  good 
material. 

Sixth.  See  that  the  "jacks"  or  irons  connecting  the 
pole  or  shafts  with  the  axles,  are  well  fitted  and  sufficiently 
heav}^  If  badly  fitted  they  will  rattle ;  if  not  strong, 
they  will  endanger  your  life,  if  you  use  the  carriage. 

Seventh.  See  that  the  axles  are  "set"  with  exactness. 
Ko  carriage  will  be  durable,  or  run  with  ease,  if  the  axles 
are  not  "set"  with  mathematical  precision. 

Eighth.  Never  select  a  carriage  because  it  is  elaborately 
finished  with  silver  plate, — it  soon  looks  shabby,  and  re- 


396  CAKRIAGES. 

quires  a  great  deal  of  care  to  keep  it  in  order.  Carriages 
are  often  elaborately  finished  to  cover  up  serious  defects 
in  tlie  workmanship. 

Ninth.  Examine  closely  the  painting :  a  few  years  owner- 
ship of  a  carriage  will  show  a  greater  outlay  in  making 
good  original  defects  in  painting,  iihan  for  any  other  item. 
If  the  varnish  is  dull,  it  generally  argues  that  the  painting 
has  been  hurriedly  done.  The  varnish  will  "strike  in" 
on  bad  painting,  and  a  little  exposure  in  bad  weather  will 
crack  the  paint  to  the  wood. 

Tenth.  Never  permit,  in  the  cushions  or  backs,  any  ma- 
terial but  pure  curled  hair.     Moss  soon  becomes  hard. 

Eleventh.  If  you  desire  cloth  linings  in  high  colors, 
always  insist  upon  English  cloths.  French  and  German 
cloths,  in  high  colors,  for  the  qualities  used  in  carriages, 
will  soon  fade.  In  drab'  cloths,  the  American  twilled  is 
the  best  in  use. 

Twelfth.  See  that  the  cloth  on  the  glass  frames  has  been 
shrunk  before  it  was  put  on :  if  not  shrunk,  the  first  rain 
to  which  it  is  exposed  will  draw  it  off  the  frames. 

Thirteenth.  See  that  the  door  locks  and  handles  work 
with  ease,  and  do  not  rattle.  Nothing  is  more  annoying 
than  bad  door  locks,  or  even  good  locks  badly  fitted. 

Fourteenth.  In  purchasing  a  carriage  for  road  use,  see 
that  it  is  made  to  "track  "  in  the  ruts  in  the  district  where 
you  intend  to  use  it.  There  are  at  least  a  score  of  differ- 
ent tracks  in  different  parts  of  the  Union — varying  from 
4  feet  4  (from  centre  to  centre  of  the  wheels,  measured  on 
the  ground,)  to  5  feet  4^  inches. 

THE   CAEE    OF   THE   CARRIAGE. 

Having  procured  a  carriage  which  has  a  fine  lustre, 
which  runs  easily  and  smoothly,  and  which  is  generally 


CARE   OF  THE   CARRIAGE.  397 

well  iinislied,  it  is  desirable  to  maintain  it  in  this  condi- 
tion as  long  as  possible.  This  requires  it  to  be  properly 
cleansed,  oiled  when  necessary,  kept  free  from  dust  in  the 
carriage-house,  and  to  have  its  bolts  tightened  whenever 
they  have  worked  loose. 

The  appurtenances  necessary  for  this  purpose  are  a  pail, 
a  watering-pot,  (the  water  should  never  be  thrown  through 
a  hose,  as  it  ruins  English  varnish,  and  penetrates  all  the 
crevices  in  the  springs,  &c.,  causing  rust,)  two  large  soft 
sponges,  free  from  grit,  two  full-sized  chamois  skins,  an  un- 
limited supply  of  water,  a  wisp-broom,  a  feather  duster, 
(a  cloth  one  will  ansAver),  a  sheet  for  covering  fhe  whole 
carriage,  a  can  of  sweet  oil,  or,  which  is  better,  pure  sperm 
oil,  and  a  screw  wrench.  Soft  water  is  much  better  than 
hard,  as  the  latter  is  injurious  to  the  varnish. 

All  of  the  fine  carriages  now  made  being  varnished  with 
English  varnish,  it  may  be  well  to  call  to  mind  that  it 
has  these  pecuUarities :  it  will  become  spotted  whenever 
the  mud  is  allowed  to  remain  long  upon  it,  and  the  more 
frequently  it  is  washed,  the  more  lustrous  will  it  remain 
— hence  it  is  necessary,  in  order  that  it  may  be  kept  in 
the  best  condition,  that  the  carriage  should  be  washed 
every  time  it  comes  in,  and  at  least  once  a  month  whether 
it  is  used  or  not. 

All  freshly  varnished  carriages  should  be  nicely  washed, 
with  soft  cold  water,  four  or  five  times  before  being  used  ; 
it  hardens  the  varnish  and  prevents  its  spotting  by  mud. 

Never  place  a  carriage  near  a  stone  or  brick  wall ;  the 
dampness  destroys  the  varnish.  Yarnish  requires  a  well 
ventilated  room. 

Ammonia  from  the  stable  will  also  destroy  varnish  in  a 
short  time. 

The  washing  should  be  done  in  the  following  manner : 

1.  Supposing  the  top  to  be  sufficiently  clean,  the  cush- 


398  ^CARRIAGES. 

ions,  and  whip  removed,  the  inside  of  the  carriage  wiped 
out,  and  the  curtains  fastened  down,  sprinkle  water  on  the 
body  of  the  carriage  with  the  watering-pot  until  all  of 
the  mud  is  washed  off,  by  the  action  of  the  water  alone, 
without  having  recourse  to  rubbing,  and  until  you  are 
sure  that  no  grit  remains. 

2.  "Wash  the  whole  body  with  the  sponge  w^hich  is  kept 
for  this  purpose,  using  as  much  water  as  possible,  and  rub- 
bing very  lightly,  continuing  the  operation  until  the  water 
runs  from  the  body  perfectly  clear. 

8.  Wet  the  chamois  skin  which  is  used  for  the  body, 
and  wring  it  out  as  dry  as  possible.  This  will  soften  it  so 
that  it  cannot  scratch  the  varnish.  Use  this  to  absorb  the 
water  which  has  been  left  after  washing,  wringing  it  out 
as  often  as  may  be  necessary.  Continue  this  until  the 
bod}^  is  dry.  Do  not  rub  it  with  the  chamois  skin,  and 
do  not  use  the  skin,  nor  any  substitute  for  it,  when  dry 
and  stiff. 

4.  Pursue  the  same  course  with  the  running  gear,  (the 
wheels,  springs,  etc.,)  as  has  been  specified  for  the  body, 
but  la}^  aside  the  sponge,  and  the  chamois  skin  which  were 
used  for  the  body,  and  use  for  this  portion  the  ones  de- 
signed for  it.  Be  careful  to  wash  the  wheels  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  throw  as  little  water  as  possible  on  the  body, 
and,  whenever  any  does  strike  it,  remove  it  at  once  as 
before  directed.  Do  not  apply  soap  to  any  part  of  the  car- 
riage, or  even  a  sponge  which  has  been  used  with  soap,  as 
it  will  destroy  your  varnish. 

6.  Having  removed  all  the  dirt,  and  thoroughly  dried 
the  carriage,  pajdng  particular  attention  to  those  parts 
where  iron  is  likely  to  rust  if  any  water  is  left,  rub  up  the 
plate  with  a  bit  of  dry  chamois  skin  kept  for  the  purpose, 
adding  a  little  dry  whiting  where  necessary,  though  if  the 
plate  is  never  allowed  to  become  much  tarnished  there  will 


CARE   OF  THE   CARRIAGE.  399 

be  little  occasion  to  do  more  than  to  rub  it  with  the 
leather, 

6.  The  top  may,  when  necessary,  be  washed  by  the 
same  process  as  has  been  recommended  for  the  body,  and 
with  the  same  care. 

Having  cleaned  the  carriage  in  every  part,  replaced  the 
cushions,  and  rolled  up  the  curtains,  throw  a  muslin  sheet 
over  it  to  keep  dust  from  it. 

If  the  carriage  has  not  been  out  since  it  was  washed 
before,  it  will  only  be  necessary  to  wet  it  thoroughly,  and 
to  dry  it  as  directed. 

This  is  the  best  method  for  washing  the  best  carriages. 
It  may  be,  and  in  most  instances  it  probably  will  be,  mod- 
ified to  suit  the  purposes  of  those  who  do  not  care  to  de- 
vote so  much  labor  to  this  work ;  and  in  all  such  questions 
of  object  and  expense,  the  judgment  of  the  individual 
must  establish  the  compromise. 

At  least  once  a  month  place  a  wrench  on  every  nut  on 
your  carriage.  You  will  thus  prevent  the  loss  of  nuts  and 
bolts,  and  preserve  your  carriage ;  a  loose  bolt  frequently 
leads  to  serious  breakages. 

As  often  as  once  a  month,  and  oftener  if  necessary,  the 
wheels  should  be  taken  off,  and  the  axles  and  boxes  should 
be  thoroughly  cleaned,  by  scraping  them  with  a  sharp- 
edged  piece  of  hard  wood,  covered  with  flannel  or 
woollen.  They  should  then,  if  full-patent  axles,  receive 
as  much  sweet  oil,  or  pure  sperm  oil,  as  they  will  retain 
without  allowing  it  to  work  out  over  the  wheel.  One 
tablespoonful  to  each  wheel  will  be  a  good  quantity. 

When  your  leather  washers  are  worn  out,  replace  them 
with  new  ones.  A  patent  axle  running  with  worn  out 
washers  will  soon  be  good  for  nothing. 

For  the  half-patent  axle,  clean  lard,  or  other  grease,  or 
any  of  the  patent  wagon-greases,  will  be  found  as  effective 
as  oil,  and  more  permanent. 


400  CAEEIAGES. 

In  lubricating  tlie  axle  we  can  use  for  the  heavy  wooden 
or  the  plain  iron  axle  a  mixture  of  one-third  tar  and  two- 
thirds  lard,  or  some  of  the  patent  wagon-grease  now  offered 
for  sale  everywhere. 

If  from  want  of  oil,  or  other  cause,  the  friction  of  the 
axle  in  the  box  should  cause  the  wheel  to  "  stick"  on  the 
road,  it  will  be  necessary  to  stop  until  the  iron  becomes 
entirely  cool,  and  contracts  to  its  proper  size ;  this  can  be 
facilitated  by  pouring  cold  water  on  the  axle  at  the  rear  of 
the  hub.  The  wheel  may  then  be  knocked  off,  and  the  axle 
suf&ciently  filed  to  remove  the  roughness  caused  by  the 
slight  welding  which  occasioned  its  sticking.  It  may  then 
be  oiled  and  the  wheel  put  on  again.  If  you  have  occasion 
to  use  a  carriage  when  it  probably  needs  oiling,  you  should 
take  the  precaution,  as  often  as  possible,  to  feel  of  the  axle 
near  to  the  wheel.  If  it  is  at  all  warm,  it  is  unsafe  to  pro- 
ceed without  oiling  it. 

REPAIRS. 

Tire  Setting  is  the  most  important  repair  which  will 
be  necessary  in  the  case  of  well-kept  carriages,  unless  they 
become  accidentally  broken  or  worn  from  long  use.  This 
operation  should,  unless  rendered  necessary  by  accident, 
or  improper  construction,  be  performed  only  in  the  dryest 
summer  weather,  when  the  wood  of  the  wheel  is  shrunk 
to  its  narrowest  limits. 

Injuries  resulting  from  Loose  Tires  are :  they  cause  the 
spokes  to  work  loose,  (technically,  "churn  out,")  at  the 
hub ;  they  do  not  properly  confine  and  support  the  felloes ; 
and  they  are  liable  to  be  broken,  or  to  become  bent.  The 
most  certain  indication  of  looseness  of  the  tire  is,  that  when 
struck  on  the  fiat  with  a  hammer,  it  will  give  a  dead,  fiat 
sound ;    a  tight  tire  will  give  a  clear,  ringing  sound  when 


REPAINING.  401 

SO  struck.  A  ''creaking"  noise  indicates  a  loose  tire  on 
an  inferior  w  heel. 

In  every  case  in  which  it  becomes  necessary  to  re  var- 
nish, replate,  or  otherwise  rejuvenate  a  good  carriage,  it  is 
best  to  send  it  to  a  competent  carriage-maker.  Many 
persons,  actuated  by  penny- wisdom,  attempt  to  make  many 
of  these  repairs  themselves,  but  they  almost  invariably 
leave  a  permanent  "botched"  appearance,  and  lose,  in 
durability  and  appearance,  much  more  than  they  save  in 
cost.  Even  the  varnishing  and  the  oiling  of  leather  will 
be  almost  as  cheaply,  and  much  more  satisfactorily  per- 
formed, by  a  professional  man  than  by  one  entirely  unac- 
quainted with  the  business. 

In  the  preparation  of  this  chapter,  on  the  Selection  and 
Care  of  the  Carriage,  we  most  cheerfully  acknowledge  our 
indebtedness  for  valuable  aid,  to  Mr.  J.  W.  Brittok,  of  the 
firm  of  Brewster  k  Co.,  372  &  374  Broome  St.,  New  York, 
whose  tasteful  and  reliable  suggestions  have  greatly  enrich- 
ed our  pages ;  also,  to  Mr.  E.  M.  Stratton,  editor  of  "  The 
Coachmakers^  Magazine^''''  106  Elizabeth  street,  New  York, 
whose  well-sustained  and  elegant  journal  is  indispensable 
to  every  member  of  the  '•^  craft '^''  and  to  Messrs.  C.  and  D. 
Cook,  New  Haven,  Ct.,  from  whose  extensive  establish- 
ment we  have  procured  most  of  the  drawings  of  vehicles 
which  illustrate  our  descriptions ;  and  to  W.  L.  McDonald, 
Esq.,  of  Beekman  street.  New  York.  We  can  only  wish 
that  our  readers,  in  their  search  for  an  honorable  and 
reliable  firm  of  whom  to  purchase,  may  be  so  fortunate  as 
to  find  one  like  unto  these  gentlemen  whom  we  have  men- 
tioned. 


CHAPTER    XXIV, 


HARNESS. ITS    SELECTION   AND    CARE. 

THE  QUALITY  OF  LEATHER — QUALITY  OF  WORKMANSHIP— THE  COLLAR — THE 
TRACES— THE  BRIDLE— THE  BIT— THE  SADDLE — THE  GIRTHS— THE  CRUPPER 
— THE  BREECHING- -THE  HOLDBACKS— THE  REINS  AND  MARTINGALE -THE 
MOUNTING— HOW  TO  HARNESS  AND  UNHARNESS  THE  HORSE— THE  CARE  OF 
HARNESS — CLEANING    THE   PLATING- 

All  who  drive  are  interested  in  tlie  subject  of  harness — 
ifbt  only  those  who,  keeping  their  own  carriages  or  busi- 
ness wagons,  have  to  procure  and  maintain  one  or  more 
sets  of  harness,  but,  in  a  less  degree,  those  who  have  to 
trust  their  valuable  persons  to  the  fidelity  of  strap  and 
buckle.  The  horse-keeper,  from  motives  of  economy, 
should  acquire  such  knowledge  of  the  quality  of  leather' 
and  workmanship,  and  of  the  best  means  of  preserving 
harness  in  sound  condition,  as  will  enable  him  to  purchase 
as  wisely,  and  as  seldom  as  possible.  While  those  who 
ride  in  hired  vehicles  should  be  able  to  assure  themselves 
of  the  safety  of  the  harness  by  which  they  are  drawn. 

It  is  the  object  of  this  chapter  to  give  as  much  informa- 
tion concerning  harness,  as  can  be  comprised  within  its 
limited  space,  by  general  remarks  on  the  quality  of  mate- 
rials and  workmanship ;  descriptions  of  the  various  parts 
of  the  harness ;  and  directions  for  keeping  the  leather, 
bits,  buckles,  &c.,  in  the  best  possible  condition  for  safety, 
durability,  and  good  appearance. 

Note.— Ill  preparing  this  chai'tcr  wo  have  been  greatly  aided  by  Messrs.  J.  T.  Smith 
&  Co.,  of  342  and  344  Broadway.  The  saddles,  harness,  bits,  etc.,  ilhistrated  in  this 
work,  were  naainly  selected  from  th-.ir  extensive  stock. 


k^. 


thp:  leather.  403 


THE   QUALITY  OF  LEATHER. 


There  can  be  given  no  very  definite  rules  for  judging  of 
the  quality  of  leather,  but  the  following  hints  are  not  with- 
out value :  — 

All  harness-leather  of  good  quality  is  made  from  the 
hides  of  neat  cattle,  and  is  tanned  either  with  oak  or  hem- 
lock bark ;  that  tanned  with  oak  bark  being  very  much, 
the  best. 

Leather  which  has  been  tanned  with  oak  bark  alone, 
lias,  when  cut,  a  yellowish  drab  color,  without  the  least 
tinge  of  red,  while  that  tanned  entirely,  or  in  part,  with 
hemlock  bark,  has  a  reddish  tinge,  more  or  less  decided  in 
proportion  to  the  quantity  of  hemlock  bark  which  has 
been  used.  This  reddish  tinge  is  sometimes  visible  on  the 
"  wrong "  or  flesh  side  of  the  leather,  though  it  is  often 
disguised  by  subsequent  coloring.  By  cutting  a  piece  so 
as  to  show  the  inside  of  the  leather,  the  red  hue  may  be 
distinguished.  If  it  has  this  appearance  in  an}^  consider- 
able degree,  it  should  be  discarded  as  not  of  the  best 
quality.  Leather  which  has  been  sufficiently  tanned,  is  of 
the  same  color  throughout  its  entire  thickness ;  while,  if  it 
has  been  only  imperfectly  tanned,  the  middle  will  appear 
darker  than  the  part  near  the  outside.  Hence  if  leather, 
on  being  cut  across  and  having  its  newly  cut  surface 
moistened  by  the  tongue,  shows  a  dark  streak  in  the 
centre,  it  may  be  fairly  assumed  that  it  has  net  been  prop- 
erly tanned. 

Kearly  all  harness-leather  has,  on  its  black  side,  a 
wrinkled  appearance.  These  wrinkles  run  from  the  back 
of  the  animal  around  to  the  belly ;  and,  in  this  direction, 
the  leather  is  weaker  and  more  liable  to  stretch,  than  in 
the  direction  of  the  length  of  the  animal's  body,  or  across 
the  wrinkles.      The  purchaser  should,  therefore,  see  that 


404  HARNESS. 

evei:y  strap  of  the  harness  has  the  wrinkles  running  across 
it,  and  not  in  the  direction  in  which  its  strength  is  to  be 
tested.  No  saddler  with  a  regard  for  his  reputation  would 
cut  his  straps  in  the  direction  of  these  wrinkles,  and  it  is 
chiefly  in  purchasing  ready  made  harness,  of  a  cheap 
quality,  that  this  caution  is  necessary.  Poor  leather  is 
sometimes  varnished,  to  give  it  a  bright  appearance.  This 
can  be  detected  by  comparing  it  with  leather  known  to  be 
of  good  quality.  Yarnished  leather  should  be  rejected 
in  all  cases  when  good  quality  is  desirable. 

The  softness  and  pliability  of  leather  is  a  pretty  good 
test  of  its  quality,  inasmuch  as  a  skin  is  never  so  soft  and 
pliable  when  rotten,  or  half  tanned,  as  when  fully  tanned 
and  of  good  stock.  The  fact  that  the  best  tanned  sole- 
leather  (English  Bend)  is  very  hard,  seems  to  be  opposed 
to  this  idea,  but  this  hardness  is  due,  in  a  great  degree,  to 
compression. 

Beyond  these,  and,  possibly,  a  few  other  similar  indica- 
tions, there  is  nothing  which  can  be  said  on  this  subject, 
which  would  be  of.  any  practical  value  to  those  whose 
only  interest  in  learning  the  character  and  quality  of 
leather  is  based  on  their  occasional  necessity  to  purchase 
harness.  Important  differences  between  two  tannages  of 
leather  appear,  to  the  uninitiated,  as  subtle  as  those  be- 
tween two  vintages  of  old  wine,  and  they  can  be  detected 
only  by  men  cunning  in  the  craft. 

THE   QUALITY   OF  WORKMANSHIP. 

Of  course  the  most  casual  observer  will  perceive  great 
differences  between  the  style  of  manufacture  of  different 
harness.  Aside  from  ornamental  stitching,  and  scrolled 
edges,  there  is  a  certain  air  of  neat  and  dexterous  work- 
manship apparent  in  the  stitching  and  trimming  of  well- 
made -harness. 


THE   COLLAR. 


405 


If  the  stitches  be  somewhat  wide  apart  (or  long)  they 
are  stronger,  supposing  good  thread  to  have  been  used, 
than  those  which  are  very  close  together.  Again,  if  the 
awl,  which  is  dagger-shaped  and  not  round,  has  been  so 
inserted  as  to  make  the  greatest  length  of  its  puncture  in 
the  direction  of  the  stitching,  the  work  is  not  nearly  so 
strong  as  if  the  holes  have  their  longest  diameter  extend- 
ing diagonally  across  the  line  of  the  stitching.  This  differ- 
ence is  a  very  important  one.  Especially  in  cheap  harness, 
the  improper  style  of  piercing  is  frequently  adopted,  from 
its  greater  rapidity.  The  reason  why  it  is  not  so  well  is, 
that  it  weakens  the  leather  by  a  too  continuous  line  of 
cutting.  When  the  proper  plan  has  been  pursued,  the 
ends  of  the  slit-like  awl-holes  can  be  seen  on  either  side  of 
the  stitches. 

PARTS   OF  THE  HARNESS. 

The  Collar. — The  best  for  heavy  work  is  the  English 
Collar^  which  is  shown  in  figure  80,  as  it  distributes  the 
draught  over  the  whole  surface  of  the  breast  and  shoulders. 
Its  size  and  weight  should  be  regulated  by  the  nature  of 
the  work  to  be  performed.  If  for  light  work,  too  great 
weight  should  be  avoided,  as  it  increases  the  heat  about 
the  shoulders.  For  heavy  work,  it  should  be  broad  and 
full,  especially  at  the  point  where  the  most  direct  strain 
comes,  viz:  where  the  traces  are  attached. 

The  proper  fitting  of  the  collar  is  an  important  matter, 
and  should  receive  the  especial  attention  of  the  horse- 
keeper.  If  it  is  too  loose,  it  will  gall  the  shoulders  and 
cbafe  the  neck  by  its  motion ;  or  if  too  tight,  it  will  obstruct 
the  breath  by  its  pressure  upon  the  windpipe.  When  in 
its  proper  position,  snug  against  the  shoulders,  there  should 
be  space  enough  between  the  collar  and  the  windpipe 
to  allow  the   insertion  of   the  fingers.      With   horses  of 


406  HARNESS. 

stylish  carriage,  holding  their  heads  high,  and  having 
very  sloping  shoulders,  the  collar  is  liable  to  work  too 
much  against  the  windpipe.  This  may  be  obviated  by 
selecting  hames,  with  the  attachment  of  the  traces  very 
low  down,  and  by  the  use  of  a  breast  strap,  or  false  mar- 
tingale, passing  from  the  collar,  between  the  fore  legs,  to  the 
girth.  A  collar  which  is  open  at  the  top,  fastened  by 
straps  and  buckles,  does  not  afford  so  firm  a  resistance  to 
the  draught,  and  for  light  harness  is  not  so  desirable  as 
one  solid-made,  though  it  allows  the  size  of  the  collar  to 
be  regulated  to  the  neck. 

For  fine  harness,  collars  are  usually  made  with  patent 
leather  on  the  outside,  because  this  has  a  more  finished 
appearance,  but  a  strong  quality  of  common  leather  is 
more  durable.  The  lining  for  the  collars  of  fine  harness 
should  always  be  of  leather.  This  is  also  best  for  work 
harness,  but  woollen  cloth  is  generally  used,  because  it  is 
cheaper.  The  stuffing  in  an  English  collar,  for  light  work, 
may  be  soft ;  but  for  heavy  work  it  should  be  hard  and 
perfectly  even.  It  should  be  of  some  material  which  will 
not  become  matted  together.  For  a  buggy  harness  it  may 
be  of  long  straw,  bound  together,  and  covered  with  woollen; 
while  for  heavy  harness  there  is  no  material  so  good  as 
rye  straw,  cut  as  short  as  possible,  so  that  it  may  be 
packed  away  in  the  collar,  like  sand.  This  will  always 
give  an  even  bearing  on  the  shoulder,  and  will  remain  dry 
and  cool. 

The  Breast  or  Dutch  Collar^  which  is  represented  in 
figure  81,  is  better  than  the  English  collar  for  any  light 
work,  (in  single  harness)  and  it  has  the  advantage  of 
showing  off  a  fine  shoulder,  which  the  other  style  would 
only  conceal.  The  construction  of  the  breast-collar  is  very 
simple.  It  should  be  lined  on  the  inside  with  a  wide, 
double  fold  of  soft  enamelled  leather,  under  the  breast-strap 


THE   COLLAR    AND  BRIDLE. 


407 


Fig.  81.— The  Breast  or  Dutch  Collar. 


or  plate,  as  well  as 
•under  that  which  pas- 
ses over  the  neck.  The 
plate  should  be  so 
long  as  to  bring  the 
trace  buckles  over  the 
^■j  line  of  the  back  part 
"  of  the  fore  leg.  The 
plate,  in  front,-  should 
be  furnished  with  a 
loop,  to  hold  the  mar- 
tingale in  its  proper 
position. 

The  TpvACES  should 
be  of  a  size  propor- 
tioned to  the  weight 
to  be  drawn.  Square 
traces  look  unwieldy,  and  round  ones  are  apt  to  rip.  The 
best  form  is  oval, — that  is,  a  narrow,  flattened  trace,  thick 
in  the  centre,  and  rounded  at  the  edges.  Coach  traces  are 
cut  seven  feet  long,  and  are  usually  supplied  with  an  ar- 
rangement by  which  they  are  secured  around  the  end  of 
the  whiffle-tree,  while  the  traces  of  buggy  harness  are  six 
feet  three  inches  long,  and  are  fastered  by  a  slit  at  the  end, 
to  an  iron  in  the  end  of  the  whiffle-tree. 

The  Bridle  may  be,  with  propriety,  more  ornamented 
or  more  highly  finished  than  the  rest  of  the  harness  (except 
perhaps  the  saddle) ;  for  a  neat,  plain  harness,  the  bridle 
should  be  especially  neat,  with  some  slight  ornament,  as  a 
rosette,  or  with  a  very  little  modest  stitching ;  for  a  more 
highly  ornamented  harness,  it  may  be  covered  with  a  pro- 
fusion of  fine  work,  and  have  a  fair  allowance  of  plated 
ornaments  and  buckles.  In  its  general  construction,  it 
consists  of  a  head  strap,  cheek  pieces,  throat-lash,  and  bit- 


408  HARNESS. 

Blinkers,  or  Blinders,  (as  they  are  very  appropriately 
termed,)  are,  fortunately,  growing  more  and  more  un- 
popular. There  is  no  earthly  reason  why  they  should  be 
generally  used,  except  that  they  afford  a  good  field  for 
the  display  of  initial  letters  and  family  crests.  They  are 
a  frequent  cause  of  blindness,  resulting  from  an  undue 
pressure  against  the  eye ;  they  cause  horses  to  be  frightened 
by  the  sudden  appearance  before  them  of  objects  which, 
without  blinkers,  they  would  have  seen  slowly  approach- 
ing ;  and  their  use  for  the  mere  purpose  of  ornament  is  as 
unfortunate  as  is  the  use  of  green  spectacles  by  fine-eyed 
men.  It  is  not,  of  course,  to  be  recommended  that  they 
be  at  once  discarded  in  the  case  of  horses  on  which  they 
have  always  been  used,  though  many  such  would  go  better 
without  them :  it  is  on  young  horses  that  their  use  is  espe- 
cially to  be  deprecated. 

There  are,  now  and  then,  to  be  found  cunning  horses, 
who  regulate  their  pace  to  the  indications  of  danger  from 
behind.  They  will  watch  the  driver,  and  go  fast  or  slow, 
according  to  the  probability  of  his  using  the  whip.  Such 
animals  should  wear  blinkers,  to  prevent  their  looking 
back  to  the  carriage.  Even  in  these  cases  it  would  be 
better  to  substitute  the  "half-blinker,"  which  consists  of  a 
narrow  piece  back  of  the  eye,  preventing  the  horse  from 
looking  back,  while  it  allows  him  to  see  directly  to  the  side. 

Where  it  is  considered  necessary  to  use  blinkers  of  the 
ordinary  form,  great  care  should  be  paid  to  their  shape, 
and  their  position  on  the  bridle.  They  sl^ould  be  very 
much  hollowed  out  over  the  eye,  and  should  be  so  placed 
that  the  greatest  concavity  will  come  directly  over  it.  If 
placed  a  little  too  high  or  too  low,  their  edges  are  liable  to 
bruise  and  chafe  the  parts. 

The  Check,  or  Bearing  Rein,  is  another  unaccountable 
mistake  in  harness  invention.     While  it  holds  the  horse's 


THE    BIT.  409 

head  in  an  uiinatural,  ungraceful,  and  uncomfortable  posi- 
tion, it  gives  the  mouth  a  callous,  horny  character,  and 
entirely  destroys  all  chance  for  fine  driving.  The  check- 
rein  is  considered  valuable,  especially  to  prevent  horses 
from  grazing,  or  from  lowering  the  head.  The  same  end  may 
be  equally  attained  by  substituting  a  simple  bridle  rein, 
to  be  fastened  to  the  saddle  without  passing  tlirough  the 
loops  of  the  throat -lash. 

The  Bit. — The  bit  is  the  most  important  part  of  the 
bridle ;  in  fact,  the  chief  use  of  the  latter  is  to  hold  the  bit 
in  its  place  in  the  horse's  mouth.  Bits  are  of  various 
devices ;  that  most  commonly  used  is  the  snaffle^  figure  27, 
and  for  ordinary  mouths,  it  should  be  large,  plain,  and 
easj'  to  the  mouth  ;   the  smaller  it  is,  the  more  severe  it  will 

be.  The  bar  bit  is 
a  simple  bar  of 
iron,  without  a 
joint ;  it  is  easier 
to  the  mouth  than 
the  snaffle,  and  is 
FiG.82."Th.  ],>.  "^      much    used    for 

fast  ti-otting  horses,  which  are  to  be  driven  with  a  strong 
hand.  A  still  easier  bit  is  that  represented  in  figure  82, 
which  is  made  of  leather,  covered  with  India-rubber ;  it  is 
useful  for  very  tender  mouths.  All  of  these  bits  should 
be  supplied  with  long  branches,  or  large  rings,  or  with 
large  discs  of  leather,  to  prevent  their  being  drawn  through 
the  mouth,  when  either  rein  is  drawn  in  turning.  For  car- 
riage teams  tiiere  is  often  employed  a  species  of  curb  bit, 
called  the  Hanoverian,  which  does  not  differ,  in  principle, 
from  the  Hanoverian  bit,  shown  in  figure  28.  Its  form  is 
somewhat  modified  by  liaving  its  branches  straight,  and 
supplied  with  holes  for  attaching  the  reins  at  greater  or  less 
distances  from  the  mouth-piece,  according  to  the  amount 
18 


410  HARNESS. 

of  leverage  required.  The  mouth-piece  is  usually  made 
plain, — without  the  port  or  curve  which  is  used  in  the 
Hanoverian  bit,  for  riding. 

Whenever  a  curb-chain  is  used,  particular  attention 
should  be  given  to  its  length.  If  too  tight,  it  chafes  the 
horse's  chin ;  if  too  loose,  it  does  not  act  with  snfhcient 
power.  It  should  be  so  adjusted  that,  when  the  branches 
are  perpendicular,  and  the  horse's  head  in  its  proper  posi- 
tion, the  finger  may  be  easily  passed  between  it  and  the 
chin. 

The  Body. — The  body  part  of  the  harness  consists  of  the 
saddle,  with  girths,  the  back-strap,  and  crupper,  and  the 
breeching  and  hold-back. 

The  Saddle. — The  saddle  may  be  either  heavy  or  light, 
according  to  the  character  of  the  harness.  For  buggy  har- 
ness and  for  light  double  harness,  it  shoukl  be  very  narrow 
and  light,  (in  all  cases,  it  should  be  stuffed  on  either  side 
of  the  spine),  with  a  piece  of  heavy  felt,  or  leather  plate, 
of  somewhat  greater  width  attached  to  it,  to  prevent  it 
from  injuring  the  horse's  back, — this  is  entirely  separate 
from  the  saddle,  and  is  attached  to  it  by  two  small  straps 
passing  around  it,  one  at  either  end  of  the  saddle.  The 
terrets  are  two  standing  rings  at  the  sides,  and  a  hook  in 
the  centre,  to  which  the  check -rein  is  fastened. 

The  Girths  should  be  made  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
shoulder-piece  and  plate  of  the  breast-collar, — that  is,  of  a 
piece  of  ordinary  leather,  protected  on  the  side  next  to  the 
horse,  by  a  pad  of  softer  leather  of  greater  width.  Single 
harness  has  two  girths — one  to  hold  the  saddle,  and  one 
to  hold  down  the  "tugs,"  (through  which  the  shafts  are 
passed,)  while  double  harness  has  but  one  girth,  the  traces 
being  passed  through  a  loop  on  the  lower  part  of  the  sad- 
dle-straps on  either  side. 

The  Back-strap  and  Crupper. — The  back-strap  passes 


THE   BREECHING.  4il 

from  a  ring  at  the  back  of  the  sadrlle  to  the  crupper,  and 
has  an  opening  over  the  horse's  hips,  through  which  the 
strap,  supporting  the  breeching,  is  passed,  and  the  continua- 
tion is  divided  at  its  end  so  as  to  buckle  into  either  end  of 
the  crupper. 

The  Crupper  is  that  part  which  passes  under  the  horse's 
tail,  and  which  serves  to  hokl  the  sacklle  back  to  its  proper 
place,  and  to  prevent  its  yiekling  to  the  tension  of  the 
check-rein,  when  one  is  used.  It  should  be  very  large  (as 
being  less  likely  to  hurt  the  horse),  and  filled  with  some 
material  which  will  not  become  hard  and  stiff;  a  very 
large  crupper  will  prevent  the  horse  from  holding  his  tail 
hard  down  over  the  rein,  and  thus  removes  a  serious  diffi- 
culty incident  to  driving. 

The  Beeeching. — The  breeching  is  the  strap  which 
passes  back  of  the  horse's  thighs,  and  which  sustains  the 
weight  of  the  carriage  in  descending  hills,  and  moves  it  in 
backing.  It  is  indispensable  in  single  harness,  but  is  not 
necessary  in  double  harness,  except  for  heavy  work  or  in 
hilly  countries.  On  tolerably  level  roads,  and  with  mod- 
erately light  loads,  horses  will  work  equally  well  and  more 
comfortably  without  it,  while  their  appearance  is  very 
much  improved  by  its  absence.  The  breeching  should  bo 
made  in  the  same  manner  as  the  plate  of  the  breast-collar, 
having  at  its  ends  strong  rings  instead  of  buckles.  It 
should  not  be  too  long,  the  rings  coming  very  little  for- 
ward of  the  horse's  stifle.  It  is  supported  by  a  strap  pass- 
ing over  the  horse's  hips,  to  the  divided  ends  of  which,  on 
either"  side,  it  is  attached  at  the  ring  and  at  a  point  further 
back,  which  should  not  be  less  than  six  inches  from  the 
ring.  This  supporting  strap  may  be  either  split  up  nearly 
to  the  back-strap,  or  it  may  be  connected  by  a  ring  with  two 
short  straps  which  pass  to  the  two  points  of  attachment  of 
the  brcechingf. 


412 


HARNESS. 


The  Holdbacks  are  tlie  straps  which  connect  the  rings 
at  the  ends  of  the  breeching  with  the  shafts.  In  these  very 
essential  parts  of  the  harness,  strength  should  never  be 
sacrificed  to  appearance.  They  should  be  made  of  the 
best  quality  of  leather,  cut  straight  at  the  sides,  stitched 
coarsely  at  the  fastening  on  of  the  buckle,  and  be  of  good 
size.  They  will  be  stronger  and  more  durable  if  made  of 
one  thickness  of  stout  leather,  than  if  made  of  an  equal 
weight  of  two  strips  of  tliin  leather  stitched  together. 

The  Reins  should  be  so  strong  that,  if  the  traces  or 
whiffle-tree  break,  the  horse  may  draw  his  load  by  the  bit ; 
their  rounded  part,  which  should  ex- 
tend well  back  of  the  saddle  terrets, 
should  be  smooth  and  not  twisted:  and 
the  hand-pieces,  which  are  best  made 
of  soft  russet  leather,  should  be  of  a 
size  suited  to  the  driver's  hand,  and 
very  pliable.  The  reins  ma_y  be  sup- 
plied with  buttons  to  prevent  the  hands 
from  slipping,  and  the  end  next  to 
the  bit  should  be  enlarged,  as  in  fig. 
S3,  to  prevent  the  martingale  rings 
from  slipping  over  the  buckle. 

The  Martingale  may  be  of  either 

the  standing  or  ring  sort,  according  to 

the  taste  of  the  purchaser.     It  is  not  a 

very  important  part  of  the  harness,  if 

the   horse  has   been  trained  to  carry 

his   head   in  its, proper  place.     If  he 

persist  in  running  out  his  nose,  he  will 

probably  be  most  effectually  cured  by 

the   use   of  the   standing    martingale, 

while,  if  h.e  have  a  trick  of  tossing  his  head,  a  rather  short 

ring- martingale  will  ennl  ]>  his  driver  to  resist  or  punish 

16 


Fig.  83. 


HARNESSING.  413 

the  attempt.  The  martingale,  in  its  passage  from  the  girth 
to  the  re-ins,  should  be  securely  attached  to  the  collar 
(if  the  English  collar  be  used);  and  if  there  be  no  martin- 
gale, the  collar  should  be  connected  with  the  saddle  girth 
by  what  is  called  a  false  martingale.  This  is  very  impor- 
tant, especially  in  double  harness  without  breeching,  when 
fully  one-half  of  the  weight  of  the  load,  in  going  down 
hill,  comes  upon  this  false  martingale. 

The  Mounting. — The  finest  bits  are  of  polished  steel ; 
and  the  terrets  and  buckles  of  plated  metal,  orcovered  wdth 
leather.  The  steel  bits  should  be  smooth,  and  entirely  free 
from  flaws  and  dull  spots ;  the  brilliancy  of  the  polish  is 
of  no  consequence.  Plating  is  of  two  sorts, — electra-plat- 
ing,  and  close-plating ;  the  latter  is  the  best,  and  may  be 
distinguished  by  breathing  on  it,  and  examining  it  while 
covered  with  moisture,  when  there  will  be  found,  on  some 
part  of  it,  the  joint  where  the  two  edges  of  the  leaf  of 
silver  or  gold  come  together.  When  no  such  joint  can  be 
found,  reject  the  mounting  as  electro -plated.  The  plating 
should  be  free  from  little  cracks.  Covered  buckles  and 
terrets  are  a  vanity.  They  look  well  at  first,  but  they  are 
never  strong,  and  the  leather  in  time  wears  off  and  looks 
shabby.  Even  plain  japanned  buckles  are  to  be  preferred 
to  covered  ones. 


HOW  TO  HAENESS  AND  UNHARNESS  THE  HORSE. 

Lead  the  horse  out  from  his  stall  to  where  the  collar  has 
been  conveniently  hung,  and,  with  the  large  end  upper- 
most, put  the  same  carefully  over  his  head,  having  first 
widened  it  by  pulling  it  over  the  knee.  After  it  has  passed 
his  head,  turn  it  (in  the  direction  in  which  the  mane  falls) 
to  its  proper  position.     The  breast-collar  may  be  passed 


414  HARNESS. 

over  the  head,  of  course,  without  these  precautions.  Kow 
tie  your  horse  securely,  and  fit  the  collar  to  its  place,  that 
it  may  become  warm  before  work  commences.  Examine 
the  hames  to  see  that  neither  the  strap  at  the  top  nor  the 
connecting  links  of  the  traces  are  twisted;  then  put  them 
over  the  collar,  and  buckle  them  at  the  bottom.  If  fast- 
ened by  an  iron  at  the  bottom,  they  should  not  be  unfast. 
ened  at  the  top,  but  the  iron  may  be  put  in  its  place  while 
they  are  over  the  horse's  neck,  and  then  they  may  be  put 
in  their  place  on  the  collar  and  drawn  up  at  the  top.  In 
either  case  they  should  be  drawn  snugly  to  their  place, 
without  being  made  so  tight  as  to  press  the  collar  too  tight- 
ly against  the  neck.  Take  the  body  of  the  harness  from 
its  peg,  hold  the  saddle  in  the  left  hand,  and  with  the 
i-ight  properly  adjust  the  various  parts ;  then,  taking  hold 
of  the  back -strap  near  the  supporting  strap  of  the  breeching, 
place  the  whole  quietly  on  the  horse's  back.  Standing  by 
the  side  of  the  horse's  hip,  raise  the  tail  with  the  left  hand, 
and,  with  the  right,  put  the  crupper  in  its  place  under  the 
tail,  being  careful  to  free  it  from  the  hairs  of  the  tail. 
Buckle  the  crupper  to  the  back-strap,  and  then  draw  the 
saddle  forward  to  its  place ;  the  back-strap  should  be  short 
enough  to  keep  it  well  back  of  the  withers.  Pass  the  girth, 
which  holds  the  saddle,  through  the  loop  of  the  martingale, 
and  fasten  it  pretty  tightly,  leaving  the  other  girth  buckled 
to  the  terret  on  the  off-side  of  the  saddle.  Now  adjust  the 
parts  of  the  bridle,  hang  its  head-piece  over  the  thumb  of 
the  left  hand,  and  remove  the  horse's  halter,  slipping  the 
right  hand  over  the  top  of  his  head  and  holding  him  by 
the  forelock.  Take  the  top  of  the  bridle  in  the  fore  finger 
of  the  right  hand — the  others  still  retainir.g  their  hold  of 
the  f  3relock — and  with  the  left  insert  the  bit  in  his  mouth, 
drawing  it  quickly  to  its  place,  and  passing  the  head-piece 
over  the  horse's  ears.     Now  arrange  the  bridle,  drawing 


HARNESSING.  415 

the  forelock  under  its  front  piece,  and  fitting  the  bridle 
about  the  ears.  Buckle  the  throat-lash  long  enough  to 
allow  it  to  fall  down  against  the  cheeks.  If  you  use  a 
check-rein,  pass  it  over  the  terret  hook  of  the  saddle ;  see 
that  it  is  not  so  short  as  to  unnaturally  confine  tlie  horse's 
head. 

In  putting  the  horse  to  the  wagon^  if  you  are  not  sure  that 
he  is  well  trained  to  stepping  into  the  shafts,  either  have  a 
second  person  to  hold  up  the  shafts  while  you  back  him 
into  them,  or  stand  him  before  them  and  raise  them  up  so 
as  to  draw  them  over  his  hips.  Pass  the  shaft  through  the 
near-side  tug  about  6  or  8  laches,  and  then  go  around  to  the 
off-side  and  put  the  end  of  the  other  shaft  through  the  tug 
and  the  loop  of  the  second  girth,  which  is  buckled  through 
it.  Unfold  the  trace  of  the  off-side  and  pass  it  first 
under  the  tug,  and  then  through  the  loop  on  the  shaft, 
fastening  it,  without  a  twist,  to  the  whiffle-tree.  Then 
come  back  to  the  near-side  and  fasten  the  other  trace; 
after  which  unfold  the  holdback  and  pass  it  down  be- 
tween the  horse  and  the  trace,  through  the  loop  under  the 
shaft,  and  again  over  the  top  of  the  shaft,  forward  of  the 
loop,  then  down  between  the  shaft  and  the  trace,  up  again 
outside  of  the  shaft,  and  then  between  the  shaft  and  the 
turn  which  has  been  made  over  it,  and  back  to  the  buckle. 
Fasten  the  other  holdback  in  the  same  manner,  and  adjust 
the  buckles  of  both  so  that  when  the  horse  is  stand- 
ing back  squarely  against  the  breeching,  there  shall  be  a 
slack  of  3  inches  in  each  trace ;  this  will  give  him  room 
to  work.  See  that  the  breeching  is  high  enough^ — not  more 
than  12  or  14  inches  below  the  setting  on  of  the  tail.  Un- 
fasten the  second  girth  from  the  terret  of  the  off-side,  pass 
it  through  the  martingale  loop,  and  buckle  it  aroaud  the 
shaft  and  through  the  tug  on  the  near-side.  Uncoil  the 
reins,  pass  them  through  the  martingale  rings  and  the  ter- 


416  HARNESS. 

rets  of  the  collar  and  saddle,  and,  carefully  avoiding  twisls, 
buckle  their  ends  together,  and  your  horse  is  geared.  Be 
sure  that  you  have  ev^ery  strap  only  sufficiently  tight :  do 
not  emulate  the  example  of  that  distinguished  Hibernian 
who  drew  taut  all  of  the  straps,  buckled  them  in  the  last 
hole,  and  then  cut  off  the  ends  "  to  make  it  look  nate." 

To  unharness^  pursue  the  following  order  : — Unbuckle 
the  reins  and  coil  them  to  the  rings  of  the  bit ;  let  down 
the  check-rein ;  unbuckle  the  second  girth  and  fasten  it  to 
the  terret ;  unfasten  and  fold  up  the  holdbacks ;  unfasten 
and  coil  the  traces  ;  slip  the  tugs  from  the  shafts  ;  lead  the 
horse  out  of  the  shafts,  lowering  them  easily  to  the  ground; 
lead  the  horse  to  the  place  of  unharnessing  and  remove 
the  bridle,  holding  him  by  the  mane  until  his  halter  is 
made  fast;  unbuckle  the  crupper  and  the  saddle-girth, 
slipping  the  latter  free  from  the  martingale  loop ;  take  the 
saddle  in  the  left  hand,  and  the  back-strap  in  the  right, 
drawing  the  body  part  off  over  the  hips,  and  remove  the 
harness, — hanging  each  part  of  the  harness  in  its  place  as 
taken  off.  Now  unfasten  the  halter-tie ;  move  the  collar 
to  the  upper  part  of  the  neck,  widen  it  by  drawing  its  sides 
apart,  and  turn  it  upside  down  (turning  in  the  direction  in 
which  the  mane  falls);  stand  in  front  of  the  horse's  head, 
and  draw  off  the  collar,  squarely  and  slowly,  holding  the 
sides  as  much  as  possible  away  from  the  horse's  eyes.* 

The  work  of  putting  on  and  taking  off  harness  is  done 
as  much  as  possible  on  the  near-side  of  the  horse,  and 
special  care  should  be  taken  to  do  everything  with  the  ut- 
most quietness  and  gentleness. 

In  harnessing  the  double  team,  the  same  general  plan  is 
to  be  pursued  as  with  the  single  horse,  deviating  from  the 

'•'  If  the  collar  can  conveniently  be  left  in  its  place  until  the  neck  is  cool, 
the  skin  will  be  less  liable  to  become  sore  from  its  pressure  than  if  it  Vie 
immediately  removed. 


CARE    OF   THE   HAENESS.  •  417 

above  described  system  only  so  mucli  as  is  required  by 
the  different  character  of  the  harness, — and  bearing  in 
mind  the  remarks  on  couphng-reins,  and  occasionally 
changing  sides  with  the  horses,  which  will  be  found  in 
chapter  XIX.,  (How  to  Drive  a  Horse.) 


THE  CARE  OF  HARNESS. 

Fine  harness  should  not  be  kept  where  it  will  be  con- 
stantly surrounded  by  an  atmosphere  saturated  with 
ammonia,  as  in  the  stable,  or  so  near  to  it  as  to  be  within 
reach  of  the  fumes  of  the  manure  of  the  horses.  The  am- 
monia would  be  absorbed  by  the  imperceptible  film  of 
moisture  on  it,  and  would  "eat  up"  the  oil  of  the  leather. 
For  the  same  reason  it  should  not  be  hung  against  a  white- 
washed wall,  as  the  lime  would  get  on  the  leather,  and  in- 
jure it  by  the  same  action. 

For  each  harness  there  should  be  two  long  pegs,  five  or 
six  feet  from  the  floor.  On  one,  hang  the  bridle,  next  to 
the  wall ;  and  the  collar,  the  small  end  up,  outside  of  the 
bridle.  On  the  other,  hang  the  body  of  the  harness,  by 
the  saddle,  letting  the  back-strap  and  breeching  hang  down, 
and  the  hames  outside  of  the  saddle.  Thus  arranged  they 
will  be  in  the  proper  order  for  putting  on  to  the  horse. 

When  the  harness  is  taken  from  the  horse,  take  a 
woollen  cloth  or  chamois  skin,  kept  for  the  purpose,  and 
Avipe  off  the  dust,  and  all  moisture  from  rain  or  perspira- 
tion ;  and  when  the  harness  is  nearly  dry,  rub  its  damper 
parts  very  thoroughly  with  a  second  cloth  or  skin,  until  it 
is  quite  soft  and  pliable. 

The  bits  and  plated  mounting  should  be  cleaned  and 
rubbed  with  a  slightly  oiled  rag  before  the  harnass  is 
18"^ 


418  HAKNESS. 

finally  hung  in  its  place.  It  is  well  to  protect  tlie  harness 
from  dust  by  covering  it,  on  its  pegs,  with  a  sheet,  or, 
better  still,  by  hanging  it  in  a  closet.  When  the  leather 
of  the  harness  becomes  dry  and  hard,  it  should  be  cleaned 
and  oiled.  The  best  published  directions  for  these  pro- 
cesses are  contained  in  the  following,  Avritten  to  the  N.  E. 
Farmer,  by  Mr.  J.  Hart,  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H. : — 

First,  I  take  the  harness  apart,  having  each  strap  and 
piece  by  itself;  then  I  wash  it  in  warm  soapsuds.  I  used 
to  soak  it  in  cold  water  for  half  a  day,  as  others  did,  but  I 
find  that  warm  water  does  no  harm,  and  much  facilitates 
the  job.  When  cleaned,  I  black  every  part  with  a  harm- 
less black  dye  which  I  make  thus : — One  ounce  of  extract 
of  logwood,  twelve  grains  bichromate  of  potash,  both 
pounded  fine;  upon  that  I  pour  two  quarts  boiling  rain- 
water, stirring  until  all  is  dissolved.  When  cool  it  may 
be  used.  I  keep  it  on  hand  all  the  time,  in  bottles.  It 
may  be  applied  with  a  shoe  brush,  or  anything  else  con- 
venient. K  any  one  objects  to  the  use  of  this  blacking, 
fearing  that  the  bichromate  of  potash  it  contains  would  in- 
jure the  leather,  I  would  say,  that  this  kind  of  potash 
will  not  injure  leather,  even  when  used  in  a  much  larger 
proportion.  The  blacking  generally  used  contains  cop- 
peras, sulphate  of  iron,  and  it  is  found  that  it  will  eat  out 
the  life  of  leather,  unless  used  with  great  caution.  When 
the  dye  had  struck  in,  I  go  through  with  the  oiling  pro- 
cess. Some  have  a  sheet-iron  pan  to  oil  in  ;  but  I  have  a 
sheet  of  iron  nailed  to  a  board ;  it  is  about  two  by  three 
feet  square.  This  I  lay  upon  a  table ;  I  lay  a  piece  or  part 
of  the  harness  upon  this,  and  with  neat's-fbot  oil  applied 
with  a  paint-brush,  kept  for  the  purpose,  I  go  over  it,  oil- 
ing every  part.  The  traces,  breeching,  and  such  parts  as 
need  the  most,  I  oil  again.  For  the  last  oiling  I  use  one- 
third  castor  oil,  and  two-thirds  neat's-foot  oil,  mixed.     A 


•CLEANING   THE    ilAKXESS.  419 

few  hours  after,  or  perhaps  the  next  day,  I  wipe  the  harness 
over  with  a  woollen  cloth,  which  gives  it  a  glossy  appear- 
ance. AVhy  I  use  some  castor  oil  for  the  last  coat  is,  be- 
cause it  will  stand  the  effects  of  the  atmosphere  and  the 
rain  much  longer  than  neat's-foot  oil, — consequently  the 
harness  does  not  require  oiling  so  often.  One  pint  of  oil 
is  sufficient  for  one  harness. 

The  common  way  of  oiling  a  harness  is,  to  apply  as 
much  neat's-foot  oil  containing  lamp-black  as  the  leather 
will  take  up ;  then  washing  off  with  castile  soap  and  water. 
This  way  is  not  so  good  as  mine,  because  it  makes  the 
harness  smutty,  and  also  the  soap  that  is  used  contains 
barilla, — a  strong  alkali, — which  cuts  up  and  feeds  upon  the 
oil  in  the  leather,  and  the  weather,  especially  if  rainy,  soon, 
renders  the  harness  stiff  and  unyielding  as  before ;  the  wax 
in  the  threads  is  also  destroyed,  and  the  stitching  gives 
way.  I  have  experimented  with  different  kinds  of  oil, 
and  find  that  the  kind,  and  the  process  I  now  use,  is  the 
best. 

A  French  work,  "Ze  Bourellier  et  le  Sellier^''^  gives  the  fol- 
lowing recipe  for  restoring  old  and  stiff  leather : 

Melt  over  the  fire,  in  a  metallic  vessel,  eight  pounds 
of  very  pure  beeswax,  stirring  it  until  it  is  all  melted ; 
then  introduce  one  pound  of  litharge,  which  has  been  pul- 
verized in  water,  dried,  and  passed  through  a  fine  sieve. 
Leave  it  on  the  fire,  and  stir  it  until  all  of  the  soluble  part 
of  the  litharge  is  incorporated  with  the  wax ;  remove  the 
vessel  from  the  fire,  and  when  the  mixture  shall  have  lost 
a  portion  of  its  heat,  incorporate  with  it,  little  by  little,  one 
pound  and  a  half  of  very  fine  ivory  black,  of  the  best 
quality ;  replace  it  on  the  fire,  and  stir  it  incessantly  until 
the  wax  commences  to  boil  again ;  then  remove  it  and 
allow  it  to  get  nearly  cool.  Then  add  to  it  spirits  of  tur- 
pentine, until  it  is  of  the  consistency  of  a  paste.     More  tur- 


420  .  HARNESS. 

pentine  may  from  time  to  time  be  added,  as  may  become 
necessary. 

ApPLiCATioisr. — If  the  leather  is  old  and  stiff,  or  covered 
with  gum,  wash  it  with  a  brush  with  weak  potash-water 
or  soap,  and  then  with  pure  spring-water ;  leave  it  to  dry, 
and  then  blacken  it  with  ink.  When  that  is  well  absorbed, 
wipe  it  with  a  cloth,  and  then  grease  it  abundantly  with 
fish  oil  of  good  quality,  (neat's-foot  oil  is  probably  prefer- 
able.) When  the  grease  has  been  thoroaghly  imbibed, 
pass  over  it  a  sponge  moistened  with  spirits  of  turpentine, 
to  remove  the  grease  from  the  surface ;  then  give  it,  with 
a  shoe-brush,  a  layer  of  the  above  preparation ;  finish  by 
polishing  with  a  soft  and  dry  brush. 

This  process  will  restore  the  leather  to  a  soft,  pliable 
condition,  and  give  it  a  beautiful  appearance. 

Cleaning  Plate. — If  the  plated  portions  of  the  harness 
become  tarnished,  they  may  be  cleaned  by  rubbing  first 
with  whiting  and  water,  and  then  with  whiting  alone. 
Polished  steel  mountings  should  be  kept  clean  and  imper- 
ceptibly oiled,  by  the  use  of  a  cloth  which  contains  only  a 
suspicion  of  sweet  oil.  Use  no  acids  in  cleaning  the  plate, 
as  it  will  soon  destroy  the.  coating. 


II^DEX 


PAGE 

Accidents  in  Ladies'  riding. . .  302 

Adaptation  of  Sire  and  Dam . .  35 

African  Jack 91 

Age  of  the  Horse 101 

Age  of  a  Horse,  How  to  tell. .  115 

Amble,  the 279 

American  liorses  rarely  savagely 

vicious 151 

Andalusian  Jack 91 

Approaching  the  horse 324 

Arab  Blood. 58 

Axle,  the 385 

Axle,  the  patent 385 

Axle,  Stratton's  Patent 386 

Axle,  the  Half-patent 381 

Back-strap  of  the  Harness 410 

Backing 253 

Balls,  how  to  administer. .    178,  210 

Barbadoes  aloes 178 

Barouche,  the 378 

Bars  of  the  Foot 222 

Baucher's   Method    of   Train- 
ing    152,  241 

Baulking '329 

Bit,  the 409,  267 

"     Pelham 267 

"     Hanoverian 267 

"     plain  Snaffle 268 

"     for  Ladies'  riding 295 

"     and  Bridoon  Bridle 246 

Bladder,  Diseases  of 181 

Blanketing 147 

Bleeding 193 

'•       instrument  for 175 

how  performed 177 


PAG» 

Blindness,  inherited 23 

Bhnkers,  the 408 

Blood,   quantity  contained   in 

the  horse 167 

Blood-spavin 114 

•'  Blood,"  its  definition 19 

'■  what  it  gives  to  the 

horse 20 

Blood,  should  be  on  the  side 

of  the  Sire 21 

Blood    less    important   in  the 

Mare 26 

Blood  from   the   Sire,   beauty 

from  the  Dam 26 

Bloods  which  "  hit" 41 

Body  of  the  Carriage 391 

Body  of  the  Harness 410 

Bog-spavin 114 

Bones  of  the  Foot 223 

Breaking  a  horse,  what  it  im- 
plies   151 

Breast-plate 265 

"  Breeding  up,"  definition  of . .  39 

Breeching,  the 411 

Brett,  the *. 380 

Bridle,  the 266,  407 

"       the  pulley 268 

"       for  Ladies' riding . .    ..  294 

Broken  lOiees 107,185 

Bronchitis 180 

Brood-mare,  points  of 27 

Brougham,  the 379 

Buggy,  the 381 

Caleche,  the 378 

Canadians ■ 45 

[421] 


422 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

Canter,  the 278 

Carriages,  chapter  on 374 

Carriages,  varieties  of 377 

Carrots  for  food. 126 

Castor  Oil,  dangerous 179,  175 

Castration 188 

Catarrh 354 

Catch  weights 337 

Chapman's  Shaft-fasten 390 

Check-rein,  the 408 

Clean  legs 113 

Clicking 218 

Clipping 203 

Clothing  for  the  horse 147 

Clyster,  how  to  administer —  213 

Coach,  the 377 

Cold 354 

Colic,  spasmodic 168 

Colic 170 

Colic,  Homoeopathic  remedies.  360 

Collar,  the 406 

Collar,  the  Breast  or  Dutch. ..  406 

Colors  for  Carriages 393 

Colors,  harmony  of 393 

Colt,  management  of  the 153 

Construction  of  the  carriage. . .  382 

Contracted  Feet 239 

Corns 214 

Corns,    remedied    by    proper 

Shoeing 238 

Corn-meal,  food  for  horses 137 

Costiveness,  treatment  for.  . .  .  179 

Cough,  treatment  for 180 

Cough 355 

Coupe,  the 379 

Cracked  heels 202 

Crossing  the  breeds 40 

Crupper,  the 265 

Crupper  of  the  Harness 410 

Cut  hay 137 

Damaged  back  sinews 112 

Dark  Stables 140 

Defects  detected 101 

Depression  of  the  neck 248 

Description  of  a  good  shoe. . .  .  231 

Diarrhoea 362 

Diet  for  Sick  Horse 348 

Diseases,  Causes  of 162 

Diseases  of  the  Foot  caused  by 

bad  shoeing 237 


PACK 

Dismounting 270 

"        from  the  Side-sad- 
dle   299 

Distemper 180 

Docking 189 

Dog-cart 381 

Doors  for  stables. .  .  .* 141 

Drench^es,  how  to  administer  178,  211 

Dress  for  gentlemen  riding 269 

"      ''   ladies              "      ....  296 

Driving,  chapter  on 304 

"        a  single  horse 306 

"       a  pair 306 

"       four-in-hand 308 

"       working  horses 311 

Ear,  dressing  the 208 

Economy  of  proper  stable  ar- 
rangements   140 

Education  of  a  Horse .  152 

'•         should  commence    ■ 

when  young 153 

Enclosure  for  Training  Horses .  323 

Epsom  Salts,  effect  of 173 

Examining  the  Horse 100 

Eyes,  how  to  Examine 104 

Falling,  the  art  of 284 

Farcy 349 

Farm  Horses,  how  to  use ......  1^8 

Farriery 187 

Feeding  a  Horse 122 

Feet,  Diseases  of 182 

Felloes,  the 383 

Fittina:  the  Shoe 234 

Flesh  Vounds 200 

Flexions  of  the  Jaw 246 

Flexions  of  the  Neck 249 

Flexions  of  the  Croup 251 

Floor  for  Stables 141 

Foal,  Food  of 124 

Food  of  the  Race-horse 122 

Foot,  Anatomy  of 219 

Fomentations 213 

Forging...- 218 

Founder 351 

Fresh  Legs 113 

Frog  of  the  Foot 222 

Gag-bit 322 

Galloways 12 


INDEX. 


423 


Gallop,  the 254,  278 

Galls  of  the  Skin 198 

General  Rules  for  choice  of 

Stallion 24 

General  Kules  for  choice  of 

Mare 34 

Girths,  the 263 

Girths  of  the  Harness 410 

Glossary  of  Diseases 367 

(Jrease 350,  203,  182 

Green  Food 129,  126 

Gripes 360 

Grooming 149,  144,  139 

Grooming,  importance  of 145 

"         necessary  for  Work- 
Horses 145 

Halt,  the.. 280 

Handicapping 342 

Hands,  position  in  riding 274 

Hands,  position  of  tlie  Lady's.  300 
Harmony  of  Color  in  Trim- 
mings, with  Dress    and 

Complexion  of  Ladies ....  394 

Harness,  chapter  on 401 

Harness,  parts  of  the 405 

Harness,  the  care  of 417 

Harness,  to  clean 418 

Harnessing  the  Horse 413 

Hay  rooms 142 

Hay,  Amount  fed  to  Omnibus 

Horses, 138 

Heats 338 

Hereditary,  defects  which  are .  23.  29 

Hidebound 351 

Hinnv.  the 84 

Holdbacks,  the 412 

Homoeopathy 344 

Horny  Crust  of  the  Foot 219 

Horse,  how  to  buy 94 

"      how  to  breed 17 

Hub,  the 382 

Icelandic  Pony 65 

Indian  Pony 76,  67 

Indigestion 36 

Inflammation  of  the  Kidneys . .  365 
Inflammation  of  the  Bowels ...  363 
Inflammation  of  the  Brain.  .  .  .  353 
Inflammation  of  the  Lungs.  .173,  357 
Inflammation  of  the  Bowels  172, 168 


PAGE 

Influenza 359 

Interfering 215 

Instructions  for  practising  Ra- 

rey's  Method 322 

Jagger  "Wagon 382 

Jibbing 329 

Kicking 327 

Knee-pad 323 

Landau,  the 378 

Laying  the  Horse  down 325 

Leaping 258,  282 

Leather  for  Harness,  quality  of  403 

Leather,  in  carriages #  391 

Legs,  defects  in 107 

Legs,  to  examine  the 108 

Legs,  use  of,  in  riding 275 

Lightness  of  Hand 275 

Lotions 213 

Lubricating  the  Axle 399 

Maiden  Horse 337 

Maltese  Jack   87,  92 

Mane,  dressing  the 207 

Mange 349 

Mare,  choice  of  the 25 

Mare,  Food  for,  during  Gesta- 
tion   122 

Mare,  Care  of,  during  Gesta- 
tion   31 

Martingale,  the 266,  295,  412 

Medicines,  Caution  in  Admin- 
istering   163 

Medicines,  how  to  Administer  208 

Medicines,  list  of 345 

"         Administering  Ho- 
moeopathic    346 

Megrims 352 

Metallic  IMangers 130 

Mexican  Pony 76 

Modern   Arabian    inferior   to 
English     or     American 

thorough-bred 59 

Mounting  the  Horse 269 

Mounting,  the  ?ide-saddle 298 

Mountmg  of  the  Harness 413 

Mouth,  Examination  of 339 

Mules,  how  to  Breed 81 

Mules,  their  use  in  the  U,  S. . .  88 


4:24 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

Mustang  Pony 67 

Naragansetts *^2 

Navicular  Disease 113 

Nicking 180 

Norman  Blood 51 

New  Corn  Injurious 127 

OmnilDUS  Horses  in  New  York  135 

Over-reach 186 

Over-reaching 218 

Paces,  the 253,2^6 

Pace,  the 219 

Painting  the  Carriage 392 

Panels  of  the  Carriage 391 

Paring  the  Foot  for  Shoeing . .  227 

Percheron  Norman 52 

"        Importation  to  New 

Jersey 53 

Phsetou,  the 380 

Physic  a  Horse,  how  to 162 

Plating  on  the  Carriage 392 

Plating,  cleaning  the 420 

Pleasure  driving 304 

Pleasure  Horses,  how  to  use.  .  159 

Plowing 314 

"         three-a-breast 315 

Pole,  the 390 

Ponies 63 

Pony  not  a  Dwarf  Horse 64 

Points  of  the  Horse 99 

Position  of  the  body  in  riding.  272 

"             hands 274 

Positions  of  the  lady 299 

Preparation  of  the  foot 226 

Pricking  by  a  nail 216 

Pulling  on  the  halter 328 

Punishment  of  the  Horse 16Q 

Purchasing  a  Carriage 375 

Purchasing  the  Carriage,  rules 

for 395 

Purgatives,  the  Horse  very  sen- 
sitive to... 166 

Quittor 216 

Eace-horse,  food  of 122 

Racing 333 

Racing,  laws  of 337 

Rarey's  System  of  Horse-taming  318 

Rearing 282,  327 


PAGB 

Reins,  the,  for  Harness 412 

Reins,  how  to  hold.  . .   311,  300,  305 

Remedies  for  specific  diseases.  349 

Repairing  Carriage 400 

Riding,  chapter  on 261 

Riding  with  Ladies. .  .  ., 285 

Riding,   Ladies' 288 

Ring-bone 113 

Roaring 105 

Rockaway,  the 379 

Roof  of  the  Carriage 391 

Rules  for  purchasing  Carriage.  395 
Rye   Bran   to   prevent   scour- 
ing   138 

Saddle,  the 261 

Saddle,  the  Somerset 263 

Saddle,  the  Hunting 262 

Saddle  of  the  Harness 410 

Saddle-Cloths 264 

Saddle  Galls 199 

Scottish  Ponies 65,  67 

Scratches 182,  203,  350 

Scratches     caused    by    filthy 

stables 139 

Seat  in  the  Saddle 271 

Seat  in  the  Side-saddle 299 

Shafts,  the 389 

Shetland  Ponies 65,  67 

Shoe,  preparing  the 231 

"     form  of 233 

Shoeing 218 

Shying 329 

-Sick  animal,  treatment  of. ... .  3-18 

Side-saddle,  the 291 

Side-bone 113 

Sit-fests 199 

Size  of  Sire  and  Dam 37 

Sore  'Ihroat 356 

Spanish  Jack 91 

Spavin 113 

Special  cases  in  riding 281 

Speed  necessary  to  excellence.  19 

Speedy-cut 215 

Splents.." Ill 

Spokes,  the 383 

Springs,  the 387 

Spurs,  the 257,  268 

Stabling  the  Colt 323 

Stallion,  choice  of 17 

"        points  of 21 


INDEX, 


425 


PAGE 

Stalls,  size  of 142 

•'  Stopping"  the  feet 218 

Strains 186,  195 

Strangles 180 

Stirrups 264 

Stirrup,  the  Lady's 293 

Stirrup-leather 263 

Striping  the  running  gear 894 

Stabling  the  Horse 139 

Style  of  Carriages  in  the  Unit- 
ed States 3*75 

Summering  Horse 133 

Table  of  dimensions  for  parts 

of  Carriage 388 

Tail,  dressing  the 207 

Teeth  of  the  Horse ]  01 

Teeth,  "mark"  in 116 

Temperature  of  Stable 148 

Thick  Wind 105 

Thorough-pin 114 

Thrush 184,  214,  352 

Tire,  the 384 

Tire  Setting 400 

Traces,  the 407 

Training     Horses,      Baucher's 

method 241 

Training-Stables 334 

Training  Racers 334 

Travelling,  feeding  while 131 


Trimming  the  mane  and  tail. .     207 
"  hair  of  the  legs.     205 

Trimming  Carriage 392 

Trot,  the " 254,  276 

Tying  np  the  leg 325 

Unharnessing  the  Horse 416 

Use  a  Horse,  how  to 157 

Varnish  for  Carriages 392 

Ventilation  of  Stables 139,  142 

Vices  and  bad  habits 327 

Walk,  the 244,  276 

Watering  the  Horse 129,  161 

Washing  the  Carriage 397 

Weights,  table  of,  for  Racers. .     341 
Weight  of  rider,  in  racing. ...     337 

Welsh  Ponies 65 

Wheel,  the 382 

Wheezing • 106 

Whip,  Ladies' 302,  295 

Whistling '  106 

Wind,  defects  in,  detected 104 

Windows  for  Stables 142 

Working  Horses,  food  for. . . .     126 

Workmanship,  quality  of 404 

Work-horses,  how  to  use 157 

I  Worms 181,  364 

i  Wounds 195,  200 


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As  A  Book  of  Reference  for  the  Farmer  or  Gardener,  this 

Work  is  superior  to  any  other.  It  contains  Reliable  Information  for  the  Cultivation  of 
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AMERICAN  WEEDS  AND  USEFUL  PLANTS, 1  50 

An  Illustrated  Edition  of  Agricultural  Botany  ;  An  Enu- 
meration and  Description  of  Weeds  and  Useful  Plants  which  merit  the  notice  or 
require  the  attention  of  American  Agriculturists.  By  Wm.  Darungtox,  M.  D.  Re- 
vised, with  Additions,  by  George  Thurber,  Prof,  of  Mat.  Med.  and  Botany  in  the  New 
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Or  A  CoMPEND  OF  AMERICAN  AGRICULTURE  ;    being  a  Practical 

Treatise  on  Soils,  Manures,  Draining,  Irrigation,  Grasses,  Grain,  Roots,  Fruits,  Cotton, 
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best  methods  of  Planting,  Cultivating  and  Preparation  for  Market.  Illustrated  with  more 
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ALLEN'S  (R.  L.)  DISEASES  OF  DOMESTIC  ANIMALS,  -      -  75 

Being  a  History  and  Description  of  the  Horse,  Mule,  Cattle, 

Sheep,  Swine,  Poultry  and  Farm  Dogs,  with  Directions  for  their  Management,  Breeding, 
Crossing,  Rearing,  Feeding,  and  Preparation  for  a  Profitable  Market  ;  also,  their 
Diseases  and  Remedies,  together  with  full  Directions  for  the  Management  of  the  Dairy, 
and  the  comparative  Economy  and  Advantages  of  Working  Animals, — ^the  Horse,  Mule, 
Oxen,  '&c. 

ALLEN'S  (L.  F.)  RURAL  ARCHITECTURE, 1  25 

Being  a  Complete  Description  of  Farm  Houses,  Cottages  and 

Out  Buildings,  comprising  Wood  Houses,  Workshops,  Tool  Houses,  Carriage  and  Wagon 
Houses,  Stables,  Smoke  and  Ash  Houses,  Ice  Houses,  Apiaries  or  Bee  Houses,  Poultry 
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also,  the  best  method  of  conducting  water  into  Cattle  Yards  and  Houses.  Beautifully 
illustrated. 

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A  Practical  Treatise  on  the  Culture  and  Treatment  of  the 

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MooJcs  published  by  A.  O.  Mooke  &  Oo. 


AMERICAN  ARCHITECT, 6  00 

Comprising  Original  Designs  of  Cheap  Country  and  Village 

Residences,  with  Details,  Spaciflcations,  Plans  and  Directions,  and  an  Estimate  of  the  Cost 
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AMERICAN  FiaRIST'S  GTJIDE, 75 

Comprising   the  American  Rose  Culturist,  and   Every  Lady 

her  own  Flower  Gardener. 
BARRY'S  FRUIT  GARDEN, 1  25 

A  Treatise,  Intended  to  Explain  and  Illustrate  the  Physi- 

ology  of  Fruit  Trees,  the  Theory  and  Practice  of  all  Operations  connected  with  the 
Propagation,  Transplanting,  Pruning  and  Training  of  Orchard  and  Garden  Trees,  as 
Standards,  Dwarfs,  Pyramids,  Espalier,  &c.  The  Laying  out  and  Arranging  dififerent 
kinds  of  Orchards  and  Gardens,  the  selection  of  suitable  varieties  for  diflerent  purposes 
and  localities.  Gathering  and  Preserving  Fruits,  Treatment  of  Diseases,  Destruction  of 
Insects,  Description  and  Uses  of  Implements,  &c.  Illustrated  with  upwards  of  150 
Figures.     By  P.  Barry,  of  the  Mount  Hope  Nurseries,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

BEMENT'S  (C.  N.)  RABBIT  FANCIER, 50 

A  Treatise  on  the  Breeding,  Rearing,  Feeding  and  General 

Management  of  Rabbits,  with  Remarks  upon  their  Diseases  and  Remedies,  to  which  are 
added  Full  Directions  for  the  Construction  of  Hutches,  Rabbitries,  &c.,  together  with 
Recipes  for  Cooking  and  Dressing  for  the  Table.     Beautifully  illustrated. 

BLAKE'S  (REV.  JOHN  L.)  FARMER  AT  HOME,      -      -      -      -      1  25 

A   Family  Text  Book   for  the    Country  ;  being  a  Cyclopedia 

of  Agricultural  Implements  and  Productions,  and  of  the  more  important  topics  in 
Domestic  Economy,  Science  and  Literature,  adapted  to  Rural  Life.  By  Rev.  John  L. 
BiJVKE,  D.  D. 

BOUSSINGATTLT'S  (J.  B.)  RURAL  ECONOMY, 1  25 

Or,  Chemistry  Applied  to  Agriculture  ;  presenting  Distinctly 

and  in  a  Simple  Manner  the  Principles  of  Farm  ilanagement,  the  Preservation  and  Use  of 
Manures,  the  Nutrition  and  Food  of  Animals,  and  the  General  Economy  of  Agriculture. 
The  work  is  the  fruit  of  a  long  life  of  study  and  experiment,  and  its  perusal  will  aid  the 
farmer  greatly  in  obtaining  a  practical  and  scientific  knowledge  of  his  profession. 

BROWNE'S  AMERICAN  BIRD  FANCIER, 25 

The   Breeding,  Rearing,  Feeding,  Management   and  Peculi- 

arities  of  Cage  and  House  Birds.     Illustrated  with  engravings. 
BROWNE'S  AMERICAN  POULTRY  YARD,    ------      1  00 

Comprising    the    Origin,    History  and    Description    of    the 

Different  Breeds  of  Domestic  Poultry,  with  Complete  Directions  for  their  Breeding, 
Crossing,  Rearing,  Fattening  and  Preparation  for  Market  ;  including  specific  directions 
for  Caponizing  Fowls,  and  for  the  Treatment  of  the  Principal  Diseases  to  which  they  are 
subject,  drawn  from  authentic  sources  and  personal  observation.  Illustrated  with 
numerous  engravings. 

BROWNE'S  (D.  JAY)  FIELD  BOOK  OF  MANURES,    -      -      -      -      1  25 

Or,  American  Muck  Book  ;  Treating  of  the  Nature,  Properties, 

Sources,  History  and  Operations  of  all  the  Principal  Fertilizers  and  Manures  in  Common 
Use,  with  specific  directions  for  their  Preservation  and  Application  to  the  Soil  and  to 
Crops  ;  drawn  from  authentic  sources,  actual  experiejice  and  personal  observation,  as 
combined  with  the  Leading  Principles  of  Practical  and  Scientific  Agriculture. 

BRIDGEMAN'S  (THOS.)  YOUNG  GARDENER''S  ASSISTANT,     -      -       1  50 

In  Three  Parts  ;  Containing  Catalogires  of  Garden  and  Flower 

Seed,  with  Practical  Directions  under  each  head  for  the  Cultivation  of  Cu  nary  Vege- 
tables, Flowers,  Fruit  Trees,  the  Grape  "Vine,  &c.  ;  to  which  is  added  a  Calendar  to  each 
part,  showing  the  work  necessary  to  be  done  in  the  various  departments  each  month, 
of  the  year.     One  volume  octavo. 

BRIDGEMAN'S  KITCHEN  GARDENER'S  INSTRUCTOR,  K  Cloth,       50 

"  «  «  «  Cloth.      60 


jBooJcs  published  by  A.  O.  Moore  &  Co.  3 

BRIDGEMAN'S  FLORIST'S  GUIDE, K  Cloth,       50 

"  "  " Cloth,        60 

BBIDGEMAN'S  FRUIT  CULTIVATOR'S  MANUAL,     -       -       K  Cloth,       50 
"  *'  *'  "  .       -  Cloth,       60 

BRECK'S  BOOK  OF  FLOWERS, 1  00 

I\  WHICH  ARE  Described  all  the  Various  Hardy  Herbaceous 

Perennials,  Annuals,  Shrubs,  Plants  and  Evergreen  Trees,  with  Directions  for  tht^ir 
Cultivation. 

BUIST'S  (ROBERT)  AMERICAN  FLOWER  GARDEN  DIRECTORY,       1  25 

Containing  Practical  Directions  for  the  Culture  of  Plants, 

in  the  Flower  Garden,  Hothouse,  Greenhouse,  Rooms  or  Parlor  Windows,  for  every 
iXcOnth  iu  the  Year  ;  with  a  Description  of  the  Plants  most  desirable  iu  each,  the  nature 
of  the  Soil  and  situation  best  adapted  to  their  Growth,  the  Proper  Season  for  Trans- 
planting, &c.  ;  with  Instructions  for  erecting  a  Hothouse,  Greenhouse,  and  Laying  out 
a  Flower  Garden  ;  the  whole  adapted  to  either  Large  or  Small  Gardens,  with  Instruc- 
tions for  Preparing  the  Soil,  Propagating,  Planting,  Pruning,  Training  and  Fruiting  the 
Grape  Vine. 

BUIST'S  (ROBERT)  FAMILY  KITCHEN  GARDENER,       -      -      -  76 

Containing    Plain   and   Accurate    Descriptions   of   all  the 

Different  Species  aud  Varieties  of  Culinary  Vegetables,  with  their  Botanical,  English, 
French  and  German  names,  alphabetically  arranged,  with  the  Best  Mode  of  Cultivat- 
ing them  in  the  Garden  or  under  Glass  ;  also  Descriptions  aud  Character  of  the  most 
Select  Fruits,  their  Management,  Propagation,  &c.  By  Robeut  Bcist,  author  of  the 
"American  Flower  Garden  Directory,"  &o. 

CHINESE  SUGAR  CANE  AND  SUGAR-MAKING,        ....  25 

Its  History,  Culture  and  Adaptation  to  the  Soil,  Climate, 

and  Economy  of  the  United  States,  with  an  Account  of  Various  Processes  of  Manu- 
facturing Sugar.  Drawn  from  authentic  sources,  by  Charles  F.  Stansbury,  A.  M.,  late 
Commissioner  at  the  Exhibition  of  all  Nations  at  London. 

CHORLTON'S  GRAPE-GROWER'S  GUIDE, 60 

Intended    Especially    for   the  American  Climate.      Being   a 

Practical  Treatise  on  the  Cultivation  of  the  Grape  Vine  in  each  department  of  Hot- 
house, Cold  Grapery.  Retarding  House  and  Out-door  Culture.  With  Plans  for  the  con- 
struction of  the  Requisite  Buildings,  and  giving  the  best  methods  for  Heating  the  same. 
Every  department  being  full}-  illustrated.     By  William  Chorltox.  ^ 

COBBETT'S  AMERICAIT  GARDENER, 50 

A  Treatise  on  the  Situation,  Soil  and  Laying-out  of  Gardens, 

and  the  Making  and  JIauaging  of  Hotbeds  and  Greenhouses,  aud  on  the  Propagation 
and  Cultivation  of  the  several  sorts  of  Vegetables,  Herbs,  Fruits  and  Flowers. 

COTTAGE  AND  FARM  BEE-KEEPER, 60 

A  Practical  Work,  by  a  Country  Curate. 

COLE'S  AMERICAN  FRUIT  BOOK, 60 

Containing  Directions  for  Raising,  Propagating  and  Manag- 

ing  Fruit  Trees,  Shrubs  and  Plants  ;  with  a  Description  of  the  Best  Varieties  of  Fruit, 
including  New  and  Valuable  Kinds. 

COLE'S  AMERICAN  VETERINARIAN, 50 

Containing  Diseases  of  Domestic  Animals,  their  Causes,  Symp- 

toms  and  Remedies  ;  with  Rules  for  Restoring  and  Preser\ing  Health  by  good  manage- 
mc-nt  ;  also  for  Trainijig  and  Breeding. 

DADD'S  AMERICAN  CATTLE  DOCTOR, 1  00 

Containing  the  Necessary   Information  for   Preserving  the 

Health  and  Curing  the  Diseases  of  Oxen,  Cows,  Sheep  and  Swine,  with  a  Great  Variety 
of  Original  Recipes  and  Valuable  Information  in  reference  to  Farm  and  Dairy  Manage- 
ment, whereby  every  Man  can  be  his  own  Cattle  Doctor.  The  principles  taught  in  this 
work  are,  that  all  Medication  shall  be  subservient  to  Nature — that  all  Medicines  must  be 
sanative  in  their  operation,  and  administered  with  a  view  of  aiding  the  vital  powers, 
instead  of  depressing,  as  heretofore,  with  the  lancet  or  by  poison.  By  G.  H.  Dadd,  M.  D., 
Veterinary  practitioner. 


3oolcs  published  by  A.  O.  Moore  &  Co. 


DADD'S  MODERN  HOESE  DOCTOE, 1  00 

An  American  Book  for  American  Farmers  ;  Containing  Practi- 
cal Observations  on  the  Causes,  Nature  and  Treatment  of  Disease  and  Lameness  of 
Horses,  embracing  the  Most  Recent  and  Approved  Methods,  according  to  an  enhghtened 
system  of  Veterinary  Practice,  for  the  Preservation  and  Restoration  of  Health.  With 
illustrations. 

DADD'S  ANATOMY  AND  PHYSIOLOGY  OF  THE  HORSE,  Plain,    .       2  00 
'*  *'  *'  "  «'  Colored  Plates,    4  00 

With  Anatomical  and  Questional  Illustr  a.tions  ;  Containing, 

also,  a  Series  of  Examinations  on  Equine  Anatomy  and  Philosophy,  with  Instructions  in 
reference  to  Dissection  and  the  mode  of  making  Anatomical  Preparations  ;  to  which  is 
added  a  Glossary  of  Veterinary  Technicalities,  Toxicological  Chart,  and  Dictionary  of 
Veterinary  Science. 

DANA'S  MUCK  MANUAL,  FOR  THE  USE  OF  FARMERS,      -      -      1  00 

A  Treatise  on  the  Physical  and  Chemical  Properties  of  Soils 

and  Chemistry  of  Manures  ;  inchiding,  also,  the  subject  of  Composts.  Artificial  Manures 
and  Irrigation.     A  new  edit)ou,  with  a  Chapter  on  Bones  and  Superphosphates. 

DANA'S  PRIZE  ESSAY  ON  MANURES,         ------  36 

Submitted  to  the  Trustees  of  the  Massachusetts  Society  for 

Promoting  Agriculture,  for  their  Premium.    By  Samttel  H.  Dana. 
DOMESTIC  AND  ORNAMENTAL  POULTRY,  Plain  Plates,    -      -      -      i  00 
"  "  *'  Colored  Plates,         -        -       2  00 

A  Treatise  on  the  History  and  Management  op  Ornamental 

and  Domestic  Poultry.  By  Rev.  Edmuot)  Saul  Dixon,  A.  M.,  with  large  additions  by 
J.  J.  Rerr,  M.  D.  Dlustrated  with  sixty-five  Original  Portraits,  engraved  expressly  for 
this  work.    Fourth  edition,  revised. 

DOWNING'S  (A.  J.)  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING, 3  60 

Revised,  Enlarged  and  Newly  Illustrated,  by  Henry  Win- 

throp  Sargent.  This  Great  Work,  which  has  accomplished  so  much  in  elevating  the 
American  Taste  for  Rural  Improvements,  is  now  rendered  doubly  interesting  and 
valuable  by  the  experience  of  all  the  Prominent  Cultivators  of  Ornamental  Trees  in  the 
United  States,  and  by  the  descriptions  of  American  Places,  Private  Residences,  Central 
Park,  New  York,  Llewellyn  Park,  iVew  Jersey,  and  a  full  account  of  the  Newer'  Decidu- 
ous and  Evergreen  Trees  and  Shrubs.  The  illustrations  of  this  edition  consist  of  seren 
sujKrb  steel  plate  engravings,  by  Smilue,  Hinshelwood,  DuxfflB  and  others  ;  besides  one 
hundred  engravings  on  wood  and  stone,  of  the  best  American  Residences  and  Parks,  with 
Portraits  of  many  New  or  Remarkable  Trees  and  Shrubs. 

DOWNING'S  (A.  J.)  RURAL  ESSAYS, 3  00 

On  Horticulture,  Landscape  Gardening,  Rural  Architecture, 

Trees,  Agriculture,  Fruit,  with  his  Letters  from  England.  Edited,  with  a  Memoir  of  the 
Author,  by  George  Wm.  Curtis,  and  a  Letter  to  his  Friends,  by  Frederika  Bremer,  and 
an  elegant  Steel  Portrait  of  the  Author. 

EASTWOOD  (B.)  ON  THE  CULTIVATION  OF  THE  CRANBERRY,  60 

With  a  Description  of  the  Best  Varieties.     By  B.  Eastwood, 

"  Septimus,"  of  the  New  York  Tribune.     Illustrated. 
ELLIOTT'S  WESTERN  FRUIT  BOOK,      -       - 1  25 

A  New  Edition  of  this  Work,  Thoroughly  Revised.  Em- 
bracing all  the  New  and  Valuable  Fruits,  with  the  Latest  Improvements  in  their  Cultiva- 
tion, up  to  January,  1859.  especially  adapted  to  the  wants  of  Western  Fruit  Growers  ; 
full  of  excellent  illustrations.  By  F.  R.  Eiiiorr,  Pomologist,  late  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  now' 
of  St.  Louis. 

EVERY  LADY  HER  OWN  FLOWER  GARDENER,  -   -   -   -    60 

Addressed  to  the  Industrious  and  Economical  only  ;  containing 

simple  and  practical  Directions  for  Cultivating  Plants  and  Flowers  ;  also.  Hints  for  the 
Management  of  Flowers  in  Rooms,  with  brief  Botanical  Descriptions  of  Plants  an4 
Flowers.    The  whole  in  plain  and  simple  language.    By  Louea  Johnson, 


Books  published  by  A.  O.  Moore  &  Co.  5 

FASM  DRAINAGE, 1  00 

The  Principles,   Processes  and  Effects  of   Draining  Land, 

with  Stones,  Wood,  Drain-plows,  Open  Ditches,  and  especially  with  Tiles  ;  including 
Tables  of  Rainfall,  Evaporation,  Filtration,  Excavation,  capacity  of  I'ipes,  cost  and  num- 
ber to  the  acre.  With  more  than  100  illustrations.  By  the  Hon.  Henry  F.  Fre.\cu,  of 
New  Hampshire. 

FESSENDEITS  (T.  G.)  AMERICAN  KITCHEN  GARDENER,     -      -         50 

Containing  Directions  for  the  Cultivation  of  Vegetables  and 

Garden  Fruits.    Cloth. 
FESSENDEN'S  COMPLETE  FARMER  AND  AMERICAN  GARDENER,    1  25 

RuKAJ.  Economist  and  New  American  Gardener  ;    Containiug 

a  Compendious  Epitome  of  the  most  Important  Branches  of  Agriculture  and  Rural 
Economy  ;  with  Practical  Directions  on  the  Cultivation  of  Fruits  and  Vegetables,  includ- 
ing Landscape  and  Ornamcnt<al  Gardening.     By  Thojus  G.  Febsenden.     2  vols,  in  1. 

FIELD'S  PEAR  CULTURE, -      -      1  00 

The    Pear    Garden  ;    or,  a    Treatise  on  the  Propagation  and 

Cultivation  of  the  Pear  Tree,  with  Instructions  for  its  Management  from  the  Seedhng  to 
the  Bearing  Tree.    By  Thomj^  W.  Field. 

FISH  CULTURE, -      -      -      -      1  00 

A  Treatise  on  the  Artificial  Propagation  of  Fish,  and  the 

Construction  of  Ponds,  with  the  Description  and  Habits  of  such  kinds  of  Fish  as  are  most 
suitable  for  Pisciculture.  By  Theodatus  Garuck,  M.  D.,  Vice-President  of  the  Cleveland 
Academy  of  Nat.  Science. 

FLINT  ON  GRASSES, -       -      -      -      1  25 

A  Practical  Treatise  on  Grasses  and  Forage  Plants  ;  Com- 
prising their  NaturalHistory,  Comparative  Nutritive  Value,  Methods  of  Cultivation,  Cut- 
ting, Curing  and  the  ^lanagement  of  Grass  Lands.  By  Chakus  L.  Flint,  A.  M.,  Secre- 
tary of  the  Mass.  State  Board  of  Agriculture. 

GUENON  ON  MILCH  COWS, 60 

A  Treatise  on  Milch  Cows,  whereby  the  Quality  and  Quantity  of 

Milk  which  any  Cow  will  give  may  be  accurately  determined  by  observing  Natural 
Marks  or  External  Indications  alone  ;  the  length  of  time  she  will  continue  to  give  Milk, 
&c.,&c.  By  Jil.  Francl-5  Guenojj,  of  Libourne,  France.  Translated  by  Nicholas  P. 
Trist,  Esq.  ;  with  Introduction,  Remarks  and  Observations  on  the  Cow  and  the  Dairy, 
by  John  S.  SkinXer.  Illustrated  with  numerous  Engravings.  Neatly  done  up  in  paper 
covers,  37  cts. 

HERBERT'S  HINTS  TO  HORSE-KEEPERS,    -      -      -      -      -      -      1  25 

Complete  Manual  for  Horsemen  ;  Embracing  : 

How  TO  Breed  a  Horse.  How  to  Physio  a  Horse. 

How  TO  Buy  a  Horse.  (Allopathy  axd  Homoeopathy 

How  TO  Break  a  Horse.  How  to  Groom  a  Horse. 

How  TO  Use  a  Horse.  How  to  Drive  a  Horse. 

How  to  Feed  a  Horse.  How  to  Ride  a  Horse. 

And  Chapters  on  Mules  and  Ponies.  By  the  late  Henry  William  Herbert  (Frank 
Forrester)  ;  with  additions,  including  Rarey's  Method  of  Horse  Taming,  and  Baucher'3 
System  of  Hoj^emanship  ;  also,  giving  directions  for  the  Selection  and  Care  of  Carriages 
and  Harness  of  every  description,  from  the  City  "  Turn  Out"  to  the  Farmer's  "  Gear," 
and  a  Biography  of  the  eccentric  Author.     Illustrated  throughout. 

HOOPER'S  DOG  AND  GUN, -      -         50 

A  Few   Loose  Chapters    on  Shooting,   among  which  will  be 

found  some  Anecdotes  and  Incidents  ;  also  Instructions  for  Dog  Breaking,  and  interest- 
ing letters  from  Sportsmen.    By  A  Bad  Shot. 

HYDE'S  CHINESE  SUGAR  CANE, 26 

Containing  its   History,  Mode  op  Culture,  Manufacture   of 

the  Sugar,  &c.  ;  with  Reports  of  its  success  in  different  parts  of  the  United  States. 


JBoohs  puhlishtd  by  A.  O.  Mooee  &  Co. 

JOHNSTON'S  (JAMES  F.  W.)  AGEICULTURAL  CHEMISTRY,        -      1  25 

Lectures  on  the  Application  of  Chemistry  and  Geology  to 

Agriculture.  New  Edition,  with  au  Appendix,  con kiiuing  the  Author's  Experiments  in 
Practical  Agriculture. 

JOHNSTON'S  (J.  F.  W.)  ELEMENTS  OF  AGRICULTURAL  CHEM- 
ISTRY AND  GEOLOGY,        --------       l  00 

With  a  Complete  Analytical  and  Alphabetic.m.  Index,  and  an 

American  Preface.     By  Hon.  Simon  Brown,  Editor  of  the  "  New  England  Farmer." 

JOHNSTON'S  (J.  F.  W.)  CATECHISM  OF  AGRICULTURAL  CHEM- 
ISTRY AND  GEOLOGY, -      -         25 

By    James    F.  W.  Johnston,  Honorary   Member  of  the  Eoyal 

Agricultural  Society  of  England,  and  author  of  "Lectures  on  Agricultural  Chemistry 
and  Geology."  With  an  Introduction  by  .John  Pition  Norton,  M.  A.,  late  Professor  of 
Scientific  Agriculture  in  Yale  College.  With  Notes  and  Additions  by  the  Author,  pre- 
pared expressly  for  this  edition,  and  an  Appendix  compiled  by  the  Supo-rintendent  of 
Education  in  Nova  Scotia.     Adapted  to  the  use  of  Schools. 

LANGSTROTH  (REV.  L.  L.)  ON  THE  HIVE  AND  HONEY  BEE,    -      1  25 

A  Practical  Treatise  on  the   Hive   and   Honp>y  Bee,  Third 

edition,  enlarged  and  illustrated  loith  numerous  engravings.  This  Work  is,  without  a 
doubt,  the  best  work  on  the  Bee  published  in  any  language,  whether  we  consider  its 
scientific  accurac}'-,  the  practical  instructions  it  contains,  or  the  beauty  and  completeness 
of  its  illustrations. 

LEUCHARS'  HOW  TO  BUILD  AND  VENTILATE  HOTHOUSES,     -      1  25 

A    Practical   Treatise   on   the    Construction,  Heating  and 

Ventilation  of  Hothouses,  including  Conservatories,  Greenhouses,  Graperies  and  other 
kinds  of  Horticultural  Structures  ;  with  Practical  Directions  for  their  Management,  in 
regard  to  Light,  Heat  and  Air.  Illustrated  with  numerous  engravings.  By  P.  B. 
I^ucnAR,«,  Garden  Architect. 

LIEBIG'S  (JUSTUS)  FAMILIAR  LECTURES  ON  CHEMISTRY,        -         60 

And  its  relation  to  Commerce,  Physiology,  and  Agriculture. 

K^litL'd  by  John  Gardener,  M.  D., 
UNSLEY'S  MORGAN  HORSES, 1  00 

A  Premium  Essay  on  the  Origin,  History,  and  Characteristics 

of  this  remarkable  American  Breed  of  Horses  ;  tracing  the  Pedigree  from  the  original 
Justin  Morgan,  through  the  most  noted  of  his  progeny,  down  to -the  present  time. 
With  numerous  portraits.  To  which  are  added  Hints  for  Breeding,  Breaking  and  Gene- 
raT  Use  and  Management  of  Horses,  with  practical  Directions  for  Training  them  for 
Exhibition  at  Agricultural  Fairs.  By  D.  C.  Linslet,  Editor  of  the  American  Stock 
Journal. 

MOORE'S  RURAL  HAND  BOOKS, 1  26 

First  Series,  containing  Treatises  on — 

The  Hokse,  The  Pesto  of  the  Fakm, 

The  Hog,  Domestic  Fowls,  and 

TuE  HoNBT  Bke,  The  Cow. 

Second  Series,  containing —  -     .  -        -        -  1  25 

EvtRY  Lady  her  own  Flower  Gardener,    Essay  on  Manures, 
Elkments  of  Agriculture,  American  Kitchen  Gardener, 

Bn;D  Fancier,  American  Rose  Culturist. 

Third  Series,  containing — 1  25 

Miles  on  the  Horse's  Foot,  Vine-Dresser's  Manual, 

'i'liE  RABBrr  Fancier,  Bee-Keeper's  Chart, 

V.'eeks  on  Bees,  Chemistry  Made  Easy. 

Fourth  Series,  containing —       -  >        .        .  1  25 

Persoz  on  the  Vine,  Hooper's  Dog  and  Gun, 

Ijj;jnG's  Fajultar  Letters,  Skillful  Housewifk, 

Browne's  Memoirs  of  Indian  Corn. 


i/ 


Webster  Family  Library  of  Veterinary  Medicine 
Cumnnings  School  of  Veterinary  Medicine  at 
Tufts  University 
200  Westboro  Road 
North  Grafton.  MA  01536 


